Client Spotlight: Shepherd’s Grain
Shepherd’s Grain marked an important milestone in 2023— 20 years in business as a pioneering regenerative flour company. Founders Fred and Vicki Fleming and Karl and Lexie Kupers had been implementing no-till farming practices, diversifying crop rotations, and paying attention to soil health on their Washington wheat farms. They were seeing positive results and they were inspired to promote these practices to other farmers and to consumers. In 2003, they started Shepherd’s Grain to create a direct connection between buyers who want to know how and where their flour is produced and producers who care about sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Shepherd's Grain sources and processes grain from regenerative farmers across the United States and Canada.
A Farmer-Owned Flour Company
The company has steadily expanded and now sources and processes grain from regenerative farmers across the United States and Canada. Today they offer sustainably grown and milled wheat flours for professional and home bakers and cooks—including low gluten, high gluten, cake, pastry, whole wheat, and semolina flours.
“Shepherd’s Grain stands apart from other flour companies in a number of ways,” says CEO Jeremy Bunch. “First of all, we are owned by our farmers. From production of wheat to leadership on the board of directors, our farmers take the greatest interest in the products and values we sell.”
The company also strives to promote responsibility and transparency across the entire grain supply chain. “Our supply chain traceability carries with it the highest level of quality management, economically sustainable pricing, and environmentally-friendly farming practices, which are pioneering regenerative agriculture in our growing regions,” continues Jeremy.
Partnering with Food Alliance
The company began working with Food Alliance early on to certify its farms and flours. “We have had a relationship with Food Alliance for over 20 years,” Jeremy says. “The holistic farm certification stood out, and still stands out, among certifications today. In addition, Food Alliance’s direct-seeding standard is specifically applicable to our brand and the no-till farmers who support that brand.”
They have been in business over 20 years as a pioneering regenerative flour company.
Food Alliance partners with the company and its producers to help them maintain high transparency and traceability standards for their incredible flours. “Obtaining any kind of certification can be stressful, intimidating, and the paperwork and audit processes can be daunting,” explains Jeremy. “But Food Alliance has worked with our farmers to alleviate those worries by communicating well, providing clarity, accommodating schedules, and receiving feedback, leading to improvement of the whole certification process that benefits all parties.”
“Shepherd’s Grain strives to promote responsibility and transparency across the entire grain supply chain.”
Food Alliance prides itself on being a certification program that works with farmers to ensure standards are practical and achievable both on paper and out in the fields. “We have a long history of working with Food Alliance, and during that time there have been a number of challenges, general business disruptions, crop failures, etc.,” says Jeremy. “Food Alliance in every case has been a true partner with us to navigate those challenges, while at the same time never compromising the integrity of their certification and standards.”
To learn more about Shepherd’s Grain and where to purchase their products, visit their website https://shepherdsgrain.com.