King Arthur Flour Intro

I believe my soul is always in search of new adventure. As I drank my latte in solace, I envisioned what Vermont had in store for me this time around. I wasn't going to be hiking to the summit of a 4,006 foot mountain, but I was setting out for adventure of a different sort. I was ecstatic for the journey North on this gorgeous almost fall day. I know the rest of the bloggers who greeted me with bright smiles and warm hugs were as well. 

We road tripped to King Arthur Flour - KAF Baking Education Center - where Vermont's signature green landscape dotted with wildflowers greeted us. The KAF grounds are pristine and well-maintained. 

Before our baking classes, lunch and an informal presentation including fun facts and a history lesson awaited us! Yes, that deserved an exclamation because I was genuinely intrigued and excited to learn about KAF and how they came to be in existence.

-It all began in 1790 in Boston.

-KAF is America's oldest flour company. (That's 220 years old.)
-When our country was young there was no source of pure flour. The company (not yet named King Arthur) imported their flour from Europe.

-In the late 1800's King Arthur got its name. The owner at the time decided the name shouldn't change each time a new family took ownership. Recently inspired by a production on King Arthur, he recognized how the king embodied integrity and purity, the same characteristics company prided itself on and would continue to strive for.
-As the U.S. expanded and gained greater control over grain production, King Arthur Flour evolved and still today purchases their grain from farms in the mid-west. Primarily Kansas, Oklahoma and North Dakota.

-A very diverse company, since 1996 KAF has been employee-owned. Frank & Brinna Sands made the decision to sell the company to the employees after 5 generations of family ownership.

-King Arthur flour might cost a little more, but the product is guaranteed to be always pure and unbleached. Their customer service motto reads: “Quality lingers on, long after the price is forgotten.”

-The finest quality ingredients and recipes are tested, developed and packaged in the test kitchen on the premises using standard equipment that the home baker themselves would use.

-The company is heavily involved in community outreach and provides real world application programs from the Life Skills Bread Baking Program (4th-7th grade baking classes at school!) to the Travel Baking Demos (visiting cities throughout the US). They even offering a baking hotline encouraging bakers with questions or those seeking advice and tips to give them a call anytime.

KAF Baking Ed - up next!!