Urban Wheat Field sprouts in Washington D.C.

Farm and Ranch September 24, 2010 The Urban Wheat Field, a project sponsored by the Wheat Foods Council, opened in Washington D.C. yesterday just steps from the U.S. Capitol. The event, which concludes today, includes a quarter-acre of live, growing wheat, a full-sized combine, multiple demonstration flour mills and a mobile baking lab.

Several Pacific Northwest wheat growers are at the Urban Wheat Field to help and so is Mary Sullivan of the staff of the Washington Grain Commission.

Sullivan: “It is amazing because no one would expect to see, first of all a Case-IH red combine in the middle of the street, let alone see a wheat field and actually be able to touch and feel it up close and personal. It’s fantastic.”

U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Colleen Peterson kicked off the event with a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday morning. Sullivan says the Urban Wheat Field was then open for the public.

Sullivan: “I think a lot of people are just ultimately surprised to see the Urban Wheat Field Experience of being able to see the wheat up close. And then once they get to the actual milling station they are always fascinated at how the actual kernels are milled or processed into the actual flour.”

Of course attendees get to taste some wheat products too.

Sullivan: “Their amazed at how good they taste because they are fresh baked. It has just been a real positive experience. Everyone seems real grateful and very excited that we are here.”

This is the second Urban Wheat Field. The first was held in New York City.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.