This project was successfully funded by a loan from Steward Regenerative Capital.
Cairnspring Mills is a “back-to-the-future system” combining the heritage art of stone milling with modern equipment to yield nutritious, local flour.
Cairnspring Mills is a one-of-a-kind craft flour mill in Washington’s Skagit Valley that sources from regenerative grain growers throughout the Pacific Northwest to produce nutritious, high-quality flour at a regional scale. Cairnspring’s market includes direct-to-consumer, retail bakeries, and wholesale food businesses. Their customer base is outspoken about their support of the mill because the benefits to this agricultural community are so tangible: new quality jobs, higher margins for local growers, and better flavors in every kitchen.
This loan will be used to refinance Cairnspring’s current inventory loan, saving Cairnspring 3.5% APR for the remainder of the loan term. A yearly inventory loan helps Cairnspring ensure that they pay their regenerative grain producers in a timely manner. Cairnspring offers a premium price above the commodity market to make it economically possible for farmers to employ regenerative farming strategies while conserving and improving their farmland for future generations.
“Buying a loaf of Tartine Bakery’s bread is nothing less than a pilgrimage,” writes The San Francisco Chronicle. For Tartine, and many other bakeries throughout the PNW, that pilgrimage actually begins with the farms and flour mill at Cairnspring:
You can learn more about the impact that Cairnspring is having on regenerating the Pacific Northwest Food System by visiting their website at www.cairnspring.com/pages/our-story
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