Patagonia Provisions
In 2016, we released the first commercial product made with Kernza®, Long Root Ale. Grown regeneratively & organically, Kernza® restores soil and sequesters carbon – a solution to the climate crisis.
Cascadian Farm
Cascadian Farm began working with Kernza® in 2017. In 2019 we launched the first cereal by a national brand, Cascadian Farm Honey Toasted Kernza® Cereal. Cascadian Farm, and our parent company General Mills, continue to show interest in Kernza® because of its intrinsic regenerative agricultural benefits as a perennial crop, and how it may help us address climate changes in the future.
UMN Forever Green Initiative
The Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota works to improve Kernza® grain for the state of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest through breeding Kernza® varieties, improving yields through agroecological practices, conducting foundational food science research, demonstrating environmental impacts, and serving as a core commercialization partner.
Green Lands Blue Waters
Green Lands Blue Waters (GLBW) supports the development of and transition to a new generation of multi-functional agricultural systems in the Upper Mississippi River Basin that integrate more perennial plants and other Continuous Living Cover. Kernza is one place where our lofty mission touches the soil. GLBW’s varied Kernza roles have spanned early market development (think hours spent with a grain tote, 5 gallon bucket, and an old Forsberg dehuller), farmer outreach and resource creation, policy development, convening, and collaborative strategic thinking. Did any of us think this work would be easy? No, but many of us think it’s the most important work we can be striving towards in our lifetime.
Healthy Food Ingredients
Healthy Food Ingredients is an organic and non-gmo grain and seed company that specializes in unique and planet friendly supply chains. We have partnered with key players in the Kernza® supply chain to grow out Kernza® supply and to install food grade cleaning and dehulling of Kernza® for the food industry.
Birchwood Cafe
We first started cooking with Kernza® in 2014 and have used it in pancakes, waffles, breads, bars and grain salads in the cafe and on our famous Heirloom Tomato Sweet Corn BLT on Kernza® focaccia at the Minnesota State Fair. By featuring Kernza® on our menu, we can seed our community with the awareness that choices can and do have an impact on the world around us. We are inspired by the perennial agriculture paradigm and Kernza®‘s benefit to water and soil quality, climate change, community health and well being.
Sustain-A-Grain
Sustain-A-Grain began in 2018 in response to the heavy toll that annual crops were taking on the Kansas landscape. We partner with farmers across the Great Plains who grow Kernza® in order to protect soils, to improve water quality, and to provide healthy, climate smart grain to consumers. We help growers with every step of the process from seed to plate.
Perennial Pantry
Perennial Pantry is a dedicated Kernza® processor and food brand working to bring delicious, climate positive food staples to market. We’ve built our own processing facility in Minnesota, and are actively developing Kernza® grain, flour, malt, and value added products. We’re focused on increasing Kernza® access and knowledge to a broad community of eaters, chefs, and food and beverage companies. We’re passionate about expanding the impact of perennial agriculture, while building a just, transformative supply chain.