Rancho Llano Seco plants winter crops of wheat and harvests in the summer. We have over 20 acres in production and offer both whole grain wheat berries (bran, germ, and endosperm intact) and flour. By keeping all 3 components of a single grain, with none removed by industrial milling methods such as those that give us white refined flour, all the nutritional value and goodness of each kernel is retained.
Ancient grains are higher in protein, fiber, antioxidants, micronutrients, and yet usually lower in gluten content than modernized hybridized grains. They are ideal for craft baking, pasta-making, whole milled flours, and a healthy, holistic approach to eating. We are dedicated to biodiversity and celebrate varieties that have culinarily or culturally significant histories in both the new and old worlds. Landrace signifies when a traditional or wild varietal adapts to immediate surroundings: soil, climate, water. Landrace varieties were selected for their ability to thrive in the context of their growing environments as well as for their flavor, heartiness, and strong survival. Over many years of careful observation in the fields, landrace varietals grew to become the American norm. But the needs of the post-industrial era altered farming objectives and selected grains that could stand up to the demands of the surging market’s rough-and-tumble supply chain.