How Artisan Grains Helped Skagit County Rebuild Its Economy

• The Skagit Valley is the center of a thriving regional grain economy, fueled by local wheat production, a mill, the research center Breadlab, and bakeries.

• A key driver behind the valley’s success is the Skagit Port Commission, which supported the Breadlab, underwrote a millstone-research trip to Scandinavia, and built a granary for Skagit farmers.

• The port also invested $1.2 million in Cairnsprings Mill, a social purpose corporation that now mills more than 7 million pounds of flour annually, supporting local farmers and bakers.

• The public-private partnership represents a model that could inspire other regions seeking to strengthen local food systems.