Grains
Locally grown grains are on the rise! Bakers are seeking local and often organic wheat. Microbreweries are seeking local barley and hops. Distillers are seeking rye and a number of other grains.
The small grain production landscape, however, is not set up to support the new, expanding local small grains supply chain. Industrial, commodity crop growers bring their product to grain elevators and receive a set price based on the market. Independent small grains growers have none of this established infrastructure – they need to invest in or find access to post-harvest, value added capabilities, storage, distribution and sales and marketing. Farmers new to small grains typically need mentorship and support on production, and access to suppliers for seeds and other inputs.
New Venture Advisors helps clients – such as communities, farmers, and buyers seeking more grains – develop new ventures that are needed to better integrate their local grain supply chain.
About Us
New Venture Advisors is a team of business consultants specializing in local food system planning and new enterprise development.
Grains Projects
Shagbark Seed & Mill Growth Plan
Athens, OH
Working with Shagbark Seed & Mill—a mission-driven enterprise supporting Ohio and Appalachian family farms—New Venture Advisors helped chart a strategy for sustainable growth. The project began with a comprehensive business review and collaborative workshops with the team and board to uncover opportunities for scaling production, enhancing efficiency, and streamlining operations. NVA translated these insights into a detailed multi-year growth plan supported by financial and market models outlining three strategic phases. This roadmap positions Shagbark to expand its reach, strengthen regional food systems, and increase demand for locally grown organic grains and beans. (2021)
Northeast Market Assessment for Vermont Grain
Montpelier, VT
In 2019, the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund led a team of partners to explore agricultural options for Vermont dairy producers facing an economic crisis threatening land and livelihoods. The group hypothesized that strategic investments in grain industry infrastructure could support production transition and expansion. New Venture Advisors conducted a Northeast market study and developed recommendations aligned with Vermont’s grain production strengths. (2020)
Livingston County Grain Center Study
Livingston County, NY
New Venture Advisors assisted the Livingston County Industrial Development Agency in assessing the feasibility of establishing a grain center that would support grain producers in the region and respond to increasing demand for New York-grown grains for microbrewing, distilling and baking. The center will launch in 2019 as a clearinghouse and storage facility for malting barley and as a soybean extruder to produce soymeal for dairy feed and oil for resellers. It is expected to serve as a catalyst for the development of an industrial grain cluster in the greater Rochester region. (2017)
