What if your flour could do more?
What if it didn't just produce comforting baked goods, but was also milled from wheat that fought climate change by storing carbon in the soil, building healthier ecosystems, restoring natural habitats, and so much more?
That's the power of our cloud Regeneratively grown climate blendlaunching this month on our online site STORE and exclusively at Whole Foods nationwide. And this is the future of flour.
What is Climate Blend?
This new whole wheat flour is an innovative blend of unique wheat varieties bred to be more tolerant of the planet's changing climate. Not only has the wheat itself been bred to be more resilient, but it is also grown in a planet-friendly way, by farmers using regenerative practices, allowing them to cultivate less, replant less often, reduce input use and improve soil health by growing as well. wheat that can withstand extreme weather events – meaning less crop loss for the farmer (and more flour for us!).
Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture It's a term that's been popping up everywhere lately, but what does it really mean? Basically, it's a step beyond sustainability. While sustainable practices aim to STAY current conditions, regenerative practices aim to improve them.
In general, regenerative agriculture aims to restore and renew natural conditions using a variety of practices that focus on healthy soils, ecosystems and agricultural communities. “Our goals are to care for the land, our community and the health of people,” he says. Brandon Bock, which grows Climate Blend wheat in North Dakota. He describes it as “farming with eyes wide open”. While particularly critical to today's planet, regenerative agriculture is not new – it embodies the fundamental principles of ancient indigenous land traditions, positioning people as stewards of the land we live on.
Photo courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
To put it in context: conventional agricultural practices release water and carbon into the atmosphere; regenerative agriculture, on the other hand, locks water and carbon in the soil, restoring soil health, reducing erosion and improving crop resilience, especially in the face of changing weather patterns. And it's not just good for the land – regenerative agriculture also supports farmers and their communities by providing future generations with more productive land. And because soil enrichment enriches the crop itself, growing wheat regeneratively can result in more nutrient-rich crops.
So basically, regenerative wheat is good for everyone:
- Consumers get healthier foods
- Farmers have a more secure and prosperous future
- The planet can heal and restore itself
And don't take our word for it: This flour is third-party certified Regeneratedwhich uses a verification standard to help farmers track their regenerative journey
Photo courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
What makes Climate Blend wheat special?
Climate Blend is part of King Arthur's Grains for Good, which also includes our regeneratively growing White whole wheat flour with stones. Unlike White Wheat, Climate Blend is a unique blend (hence the name!) of three types of wheat, all developed from Washington State University Breadlab. These include a new perennial wheat species (meaning it does not require annual seeding, supporting soil health) combined with two varieties of hard red wheat. This signature blend of climate-friendly grains creates a delicious flour that is easy to bake while also being durable.
These grains are all grown by two farmers: Brock Linker in Montana, and Brandon Bock in North Dakota. Brandon says his decision to switch to regenerative practices was “a conscious effort to be part of the solution to global warming, rather than part of the problem.” Since switching from conventional to regenerative practices, he has seen “increased water infiltration, less wind erosion and less nutrient runoff,” and notes, “Our need for fertilizer has decreased dramatically.”
While creating a better food system starts in the fields, it doesn't end there. Bakers can do our part to support a healthier agricultural system with the flours we choose. “Consumers need to understand that the only way to achieve a more resilient agricultural system is through regenerative production,” Brandon points out. “It's reassuring to see that consumers care as much as we do about how their food is grown,” adds Brock. “For the first time in my life, I feel like the divide between consumers and producers is slowly narrowing.”
Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
How to bake with Climate Blend
And while soil health and a better food system are important, so is taste. So what does this new flour taste like? It's rich and delicious, with a soft texture, perfect for breads, muffins, cookies and more. We recommend you try it in our new recipes Whole wheat climate blend, Chapati climate mix, AND Climate Mix Sandwich Bread. But you can use it in any recipe that calls for whole wheat flour.
And as always, ours Baker's hotline is available for any baking questions you have. Join us as we pave our way to a better future.
Order a bag of Climate mix from Buy online or find at a Whole Foods near you with our Store locator.
Cover photo by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.
