Cairnspring Mills Expands with New Mill in Pendleton, Oregon

Specialty flour producer Cairnspring Mills is launching operations at a new mill in Pendleton, Oregon. According to CEO and co-founder Kevin Morse, the new Blue Mountain Mill will accommodate the company's growth and meet increasing customer demand for high-quality flours.

Cairnspring Mills specializes in sourcing specific grain varieties from farmers, preserving their identity, and milling them into unique flours. The company utilizes stone-milling techniques to better retain the grain's natural flavor and nutritional content compared to industrial methods. The goal is to offer both professional bakers and home cooks a more diverse range of grain options.

The company operates as a social-purpose corporation, allowing flexibility to consider outcomes beyond pure profit maximization. This structure enables actions such as donating flour to food banks and offering better prices to farmers who practice regenerative agriculture. Cairnspring Mills aims to create a higher-value domestic market for farmers, who often face pressure to increase production and lower costs.

The location near Pendleton was chosen for its access to excellent wheat-growing land and a community of farmers already engaged in regenerative agriculture. The opening of Blue Mountain Mill is the culmination of over a decade of development, aiming to demonstrate that food production can be economically viable while supporting communities and the environment.