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COOPERATIVE WHEAT PURCHASE
June 7, 2003
2003 WHEAT BULK PURCHASE
This year we are offering Certified Organic Wheat from two farms: PDH Farms in Okemah and Johns Farm in Fairview.
Prices for the PDH wheat are $15 for a 50 pound bag (a little less than a bushel, which is 60 pounds). The John's Farm wheat is $8 for a 25 pound bag, with a discount of 10% for purchases of multiple bags. On the John's Farm wheat will will either need a minimum order of 50 bags for delivery to the Oklahoma City area. The PDH wheat will be delivered to three drop off points: Norman, central Oklahoma City, and Edmond, but it is a limited quantity, about 40 or 50 bushels total, while the John's Farm wheat from Fairview is available in major quantities (Don has 2 acres of certified organic wheat, John's Farm has 1500 acres of certified organic wheat.) If we don't get 50 bags of the John's Farm wheat, I may go up and get it, in which case there will be a small surcharge on each bag to pay for the gasoline.
To order, send email to rmwj@soonernet.com with WHEAT in the subject line, or leave a message at 405 557 0436, or call me directly at 405 613 4688 (cell phone). Wheat harvest is happening now, so we want to get this organized over the next two weeks.
Update: July 9, 2002
The cooperative wheat purchase was successfully completed in June. We have 2 bushels left over, which are available at $10/bushel. Contact Robert Waldrop at rmwj@soonernet.com or 557.0436.
In September 2002, we will be taking orders for 100% organically grown hard red winter wheat, for delivery from the 2003 harvest (about June 2003).
Update: June 6, 2002
We have found a farmer out by Okemah to buy wheat from. As soon as his fields are dry, he will harvest. If you are interested in this cooperative wheat purchase, please contact Bob Waldrop immediately at rmwj@soonernet.com or by phone at 557 0436. In a local food system, purchases flow with the rhythm of the seasons and the land. Now is the time for harvesting wheat in Oklahoma, and thus now is the time to lay in a supply of flour for the following year. There will not be another cooperative wheat purchase until the harvest of 2003. We have found wheat that is free of any pesticides, although the land did have fertilizer earlier this year.
Current count of customers participating: 12
Amount of wheat being purchased: 20 bushels
Wheat is bought in bulk by the bushel, a bushel is equal to 60 pounds, and would fit in a container that is roughly 10 inches by 10 inches by 21 inches. You must furnish your own container. We suggest the round five gallon food grade plastic buckets with lids. These buckets can be acquired for free (or nearly free) at just about any bakery or donut shop, as such businesses buy ingredients in them and they are often thrown away. Minimum purchase is one bushel.
Wheat is currently selling in Oklahoma for less than $3.00 a bushel. I believe that to be fair we should offer more than that price, and it seems to me that $10.00/bushel, or $10 for a 5 gallon bucket full, would be more equitable (17 cents/pound). This price is less than the price leader generic brand flours sold in five pound bags at discount grocery stores, which typically goes for 20 cents/pound.
You will need to deliver your container(s) to us, we will go get the wheat, and then you will need to pick up your wheat from our location (1524 NW 21st in OKC).
How much wheat should you get?
This depends on how much home baking you do. If you bake all of your family's bread products, you could easily use a pound a day, or about 6 bushels a year. If you bake only once a week, then you may need only 1 bushel, or 60 pounds. Whole wheat kernels stored in an airtight container will keep for a very long time. There will not be another bulk wheat purchase until May/June of 2003, so it is better to buy more rather than less.
To sign up, send me email at rmwj@soonernet.com, or contact us at 405.557.0436, 1524 NW 21, OKC, 73106
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