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Being a wheat farmer, the lack of a local supply chain would keep me from considering it. Growing it is one thing, but if you don't have anyone to sell the end
by randomdata 9y ago
Being a wheat farmer, the lack of a local supply chain would keep me from considering it. Growing it is one thing, but if you don't have anyone to sell the end product to, it is all for not.
- russnewcomer 9y agoThis is one reason why I think they need to push the home-growing aspect more. If they can get people introduced to the taste and concept, and it becomes some trendy thing like quinoa, the market for farmers explodes.
- iak8god 9y agoI don't know if that's actually viable. I've grown all kinds of veggies, but it'd never occur to me to grow grain. It takes a lot of space, for one thing, but also is difficult to harvest and process on a small scale (i.e. by hand).
- russnewcomer 9y agoAbsolutely, it's not easy to process. But if it can be easy to grow like a decorative grass, space is less of an issue as it can be like a decorative grass. And my point is not that Americans will ever grow something like Kernza en masse, but if enough trendsetters do it, there's a greater market for farmers to sell to.
- iak8god 9y agoI'd be willing give it a try. But if used in typical decorative grass fashion (small clusters as border accents) it should generate about enough flour to make a muffin or dinner roll every year or so. Is backyard production of quinoa driving its popularity?
- russnewcomer 9y agoProbably not on quinoa, I have no idea. But something like Kernza needs a jumpstart to market, and if it is easy to grow in the backyard or in a community plot, that could be a jumpstart.