Chatham announces Commonwealth Grains Community (CGC)

Chatham University and its Center for Regional Agriculture, Food, and Transformation (CRAFT) initiative have announced plans to form the inaugural membership of the Commonwealth Grains Community (CGC), a network designed to better connect professional grain producers and processors in the greater Western PA region.  

The CGC will be a members-only portal within the CRAFT website that provides informational resources, a calendar of upcoming grains events, local educational and networking opportunities, and a forum for members to exchange questions and ideas. The community is free to join. 

The inaugural members of the CGC include CNC Malting Company, Crust Worthy, Le Beau Gateau, Driftwood Oven, Going With The Grain LLC, North Country Brewing Company, Novel Breads Co., Weatherbury Farm, and Wild Rise Bakery. 

The CGC will also offer educational webinars created by and for the CRAFT community and its members. Upcoming webinars during the summer of 2021 include:

• Branding Local Grains

• Marketing Local Grains

• Brewing Local

• Know Your Malt

• Recipe Development with Local Grains 

A list of CGC webinars is available online at https://www.craft.chatham.edu/events.

“We’re proud to be launching the Commonwealth Grains Community with active input from our initial members who range from farms and bakeries to breweries and malting companies,” says Cassandra Malis, CRAFT Program Manager. “As we grow the CGC, we look forward to including a diverse array of grain producers, processors, retailers, and other businesses and artisans. The advice, expertise, and insights that our members exchange will not only help strengthen the regional grains economy but also to improve and sustain our local food-growing and processing ecosystems.” 

The Commonwealth Grains Community was developed as a result of the research CRAFT conducted at its 2020 Grains and Revolution conference, an event that centered and amplified the wide array of work being done by BIPOC chefs, farmers, bakers, and millers to showcase the diversity of grains, baking, and brewing. By intentionally supporting a more equitable and collaborative food system, CRAFT hopes to create a more sustainable and inclusive agricultural and culinary environment throughout the region. 

To learn more about the Commonwealth Grains Community, please visit https://www.craft.chatham.edu/grains.