Andrea and Christian Stanley harvested their first malt barley from a small field in Hadley in 2010. Little did they know it was only the beginning of their venture into the grain industry—a path that eventually inspired them to found their own flour mill, Ground Up Grain. After nearly a decade in business, their mission remains the same: to produce fresh and nutritious flour for a sustainable and resilient local food system.
One of the co-op’s top priorities is to partner with socially and environmentally conscious vendors and distributors. We seek out small farmers from the region who offer responsibly made products that are beneficial to the earth and the health of our community. This road eventually led to Family Farmstead Dairy in Central New York, where a small family farm recently started a small creamery founded on the values of ecological sustainability and family wellness.
CADIA® uses honest, simple ingredients in all their products to bring you delicious choices for any occasion. They believe in sustainable farming and sourcing the highest quality ingredients. Their long-term partnerships with trusted farmers allows us to bring reliable, quality products exclusively to your neighborhood natural market.
How it happened was simple: I had an overabundance of herbs in my garden, my Dad took a walk over to visit and asked me why I looked so puzzled standing in my garden. I told him I had too many herbs, and he replied quickly with what changed my life “Then start a business.” That’s all it took! I liked to cook, so I began writing recipes, then I would start trying different dips, dressings, seasoning out on family and friends.
You probably know us from eating our delicious winter carrots, beets, parsnips, Macomber rutabagas, and Asian Radishes after shopping at River Valley Co-op. We love growing for RIver Valley Co-op because their customers have a special love for our local farms.
