Last month when I visited my family in Oregon, I had the opportunity to visit Bob’s Red Mill.
I have been to the Bob’s Red Mill Store before. In fact, I have been there many times. I grew up in the Portland area and remember my best friend’s mom and sister going there in the early 1990’s to purchase flour and other products from them.
And I have visited Bob’s Red Mill almost every time I have visited Oregon over the last seventeen years. In fact, the few times that we have driven out to Oregon, I have hauled back several hundred pounds of grains to Oklahoma. I have even met Bob of Bob’s Red Mill a few times on my visits.
Yes, I think you can say that I love Bob’s Red Mill.
This last trip out to Oregon though I was able to do more than just visit the store. I got a behind the scenes tour of the mill and what goes on. I was thrilled to be able to see how they process and grind their products. And I was excited to see how they process and keep their gluten free products safe and truly gluten free.
My first thought when I entered Bob’s Red Mill was what a great company it must be to work for. You could instantly tell that the employees loved working there and cared about the company. And they should care because Bob’s Red Mill is an employee owned company. The employees truly do care about the company and the quality of the product they produce because it is their company.
My sister Flora joined me for the tour. As we toured the mill we both kept thinking, “Wow that is a lot of grain.” And it is a lot of grain.
In 2010 about 60 million lbs of grain went through Bob’s Red Mill. Not only that, but they had about 12 million lbs of other products go through the mill. That is about 125,000 packages a day. That is a lot of whole grain healthy products!
It was very interesting to see how efficient they were with the whole process from the grinding to the packaging.
Bob’s Red Mill turns over 90% of their product every three weeks. I love this fact. This means that their products are not sitting around in a warehouse for months and months. They do their best to get their product to the consumer as soon as possible.
They also continually test their products in a lab and test kitchen to make sure they are up to the standards that their consumers expect.
The part of the tour I really enjoyed was the gluten free area. Several in my family eat gluten free, so finding high quality, good tasting gluten free products is important to me.
Bob’s Red Mill has a totally different section where they process their gluten free products. It has a different ventilation system and they keep everything separate. They test the gluten free products multiple times throughout the time that they enter and leave the mill to be sure they continue to stay gluten free and safe. And they have a totally different lab, in a separate area, where they do all the gluten free testing. They really do care that their products are what they say they are. They take gluten free seriously.
They sell about 70 gluten free products that are certified and tested gluten free.
And they sell over 400 products under the entire Bob’s Red Mill brand.
The Bob’s Red Mill website has a few video tours of their mill that are fun to watch if you are interested in more about their company and products. And if you live in or ever visit the Portland, OR area I encourage you to visit Bob’s Red Mill.
Now for the giveaway! GIVEAWAY OVER!!!!
Bob’s Red Mill is giving away a gift pack to four of my readers. Each gift pack will include four items of the winners choosing. (The items can range in size from an 8 ounce package to the 32 ounce package size. So, basically any of the small prepackaged sizes that you find on your grocery store shelf.) What I love about this giveaway is that you get to choose. So the winners will have a chance to pick products that they have wanted to try. And if one of my gluten free readers wins they will be able to choose from any of the gluten free products.
This giveaway will end Wednesday July 20, 2011. Four winners will be chosen.
To Enter:
Leave me a comment. That is all you have to do, but I would love to hear what Bob’s Red Mill product you love or what product you have been wanting to try. (One entry per person, please.)
For more questions and details please see my giveaway policy.
Disclaimer: Bob’s Red Mill sent me a sample pack of their gluten free products to try after I toured the mill, however, I have loved and used their products for years. I contacted them about touring the mill, they did not contact me. They did not pay me for my time or thoughts. My thoughts and opinions are my own. I truly think they are a great company that produce great products.
I would love to be able to give some gluten free products to my sister-in-law. She just discovered my nephew is gluten intolerant, and is trying to find products the whole family can eat (and afford!).
It is awesome that they take their gluten free products so serious! I love Bob’s Red Mill too! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I would love to try some of the pricier flours that I don’t let myself afford…almond, quinoa…this would be a fun choice to make!
I love Bob’s Red Mill, too. They always have whatever obscure thing I need.
I’d love to try their organic high-fiber products. But I’m afraid to spend the $ and the fam won’t eat ;(
I’ve never heard of Bob’s Red Mill before! Everything on their website looks so good, but I think I’d most like to try the rye bread mix.
the 13 bean soup mix sounds yummy 🙂
I grew up watching my parents use Bob’s Red Mill products, but only recently began to use them in my own home. Currently I have a bag of the flax seed meal residing in my fridge to use with my breakfast cereal, but I would love to branch out! I really enjoyed seeing the inside of the mill, thanks for the tour!
The grey sky in the first picture gave away that Bob’s Red Mill is in Oregon! lol I have never used any of their products, I want to, I think everytime I go to the grocery store I pick up one of their products but for what ever reason it never makes it in my cart.
I have never tried anything from Bob’s Red Mill but this looks great.
Thanks.
I haven’t tried any Bob’s Red Mill products, but I certainly would be open to it!
Once we finish up the popcorn in our pantry, we are going to try to give up the microwave stuff, so I’d love to try some of the Bob’s Red Mill popcorn in our stovetop popper.
Thanks for the opportunity!
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What a fun tour! I love their products and often buy their Spelt Flour.
I love their Vegi Soup Mix, but I’d love to try other products!
we used to love the wheat buttermilk pancakes, but i stopped buying them after i realized i was gluten intolerant. i would love to try their masa harina.
I use thier vital wheat gluten!
I have loved the Bob’s Red Mill products that I have tried. I didn’t realize they were an Oregon company though! Thanks for this post!
I would love to try their GF chocolate cake mix! I’ve been really happy with the other products I’ve tried. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I would really like to try the Whole Grains & Beans Soup Mix. Looks really good. Thanks for all the great info on a great company, and thanks for the opportunity to win some great products!
So many to choose from. I would like to try some of the Quina and some of the harder to find flours.
I have a couple different packs of Bob’s in my cupboard. Anytime a recipe calls for something I don’t usually use, the Bob’s section on the shelf is the first place I look. I really love quinoa. Thanks for the opportunity!
I love their mixes. I usually pick them up at our local bread store.
We love Bob’s products! My husband recently found out he has celiac disease and so we’ve had to re-think they way we cook and eat, and Bob’s products have been so helpful and yummy!
I would love to try some of their gluten-free mixes or coconut flour!
My husband has recently given up gluten, and I am (and even more importantly, he is) getting tired of sticking to the naturally gluten free foods, so I’d like to try some mixes!
I love, love, love Bob’s Red Mill Products. I was so thrilled that I found some of their products at a local Big Lots for almost half their grocery store prices.
OH.MY.GOODNESS! What an amazing giveaway! Since going gluten free we have purchased a lot more Bob’s Redmill products b/c we believe in their quality…and we’ve never been disappointed.
The one thing my family LOVES is their gluten free pancake mix! It is awesome! My biggest pet peeve with GF products is when you eat them and then think/say “well, it’s not bad for gluten free”. Who wants to eat like that! I want to eat things that taste good no matter what allergy/palate I’m cooking for. Their pancakes are AMAZING…no matter who you are or what you eat!
I have tried some of the Bob’s Red Mill products. My kids loved the pancake mix we tried. I usually spend several minutes perusing their shelves when I am at the grocery store! Unfortunately, I have to limit my purchases due to a very tight budget right now.
I would love to try Bob’s Red Mill products. I’ve heard great things about them but never had a chance to try them.
Hi, I love their white rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch….lots of their gluten free “flours”. 🙂 All of the products that allowed me to bake again once I found out I had Celiacs. That was the hardest thing I think. At first I thought I would never bake again. Not true at all thanks to Bob’s Red Mill and a lot of your recipes. 🙂
I would love to try their products. In fact we are taking a trip to Oregon the beginning of August so maybe I can stop by their store. Thanks for the info.
I would love to try their coconut flour and whole wheat pastry flour!
Great giveway, love the opportunity to choose our own!
I would love to win some Bob’s Red Mill products! I have been trying, steel cut oats, wheat germ and flaxseed and look forward to adding some more items in the future…
Sweet giveaway, Lynn! What a great tour opportunity as well. I’ve been using their products over the past year as I bake for my bff. I love sending her treats! In my freezer right now, I have their old fashioned oats, all purpose mix, arrowroot powder, rice flour, and probably several others!
I’ve seen the packages of Bob’s Red Mill products in the store, but I’ve never bought any. Maybe if I win the gift pack, I’ll find some new favorites. 🙂
I’ve tried their quinoa. I liked it, but I’m still wanting to try out more recipes with it.
I love doing factory tours– that one looks really neat! My local grocery store only carries basic flours, so I’d love to try some of the more unique products that Bob’s Red Mill has!
I would love to try some of Red Mills products, especially the coconut flour.
The only product I’ve tried is the ground flax seed, but I would like to try more of their products.
I’d love to try the almond flour or coconut flour – yum!
I would love to win some Bob’s Red Mill products! I have used many like their whole wheat pastry flour and tapioca starch with great results.
We love their flax meal. I have been using it since my son started eating solids. I included just a small amount in his oatmeal and now I put some in almost every baked good I make! It’s so good for your heart and your digestion that you can’t go wrong. It doesn’t really change the taste at all. I would love to try some of their other things!
I would love to try the Spice Apple Bran Muffin Mix.
There is one Bob’s Red Mill item I always have in my fridge — Flax Seed Meal. I add this to pancakes, waffles, and all kinds of baked goods. Would love to try some other products!
I haven’t heard of this company either and looking at the website, sure enough there are no stores listed in the last two towns I have lived in. I do think their products look interesting though and would enjoy checking some out to see if it’s worth the effort to track them down when in a bigger town. Thanks for the chance.
I love their gluten free options!
I love the flax seeds, but if I win, I’m gonna try some of their specialty flours, like buckwheat. 🙂
I LOVE Bob’s Red Mill! I use their Flaxseed meal all the time. And quite frequently their gluten free products as my BIL is gf!
I love Bob’s products. I always have bags of GF All-Purpose Flour, Ground Flaxseed Meal, Xanthan, and Organic Brown Rice Flour in my fridge!
I would love to try their almond meal and some of their mixes.
Bob’s Red Mill products are great. We love their coconut flour.
I would love to try some of the different types of flours that I normally don’t purchase. Thanks for the giveaway!
I have never tried them but would love to!
I just recently purchased their ground flaxseed meal. Next, I want to try their whole wheat pastry flour and their steel cut oatmeal. Thanks for the giveaway!
Very cool, Lynn! I’m excited that you had a chance to take a tour 🙂
Now, since you love their flours and have a nut allergy in your house, how does that work? I know they produce a lot of GF flours that are nut-based…? Thanks for your insight.
I love their steel cut oats. I would like to try some of their wheat varieties to grind for bread-making.
I’ve never tried any of their stuff, but I would love to try their steel cut oats or anything else for that matter.
I’ve always wanted to try Bob’s Red Mill products…just haven’t gotten around to it yet! Hopefully, I’ll win and get my chance! Thanks so much!
I have always wanted to try more products from Bob’s Red Mill. They all sound great!
Ooooh, I am entering this one. I have really appreciated BRM products since becoming gluten-free. I want to try my hand at homemade gluten-free bread, but the price of some of the ingredients is a barrier for me. If I won, I would choose some of the fine GF products they offer in order to achieve my dream of making a nice gluten-free bread at home!
I have bought their steel cut oats for years, but haven’t tried much else. I would love to try some of their baking mixes or alternate flours.
I love their oat bran…boring I know!
I’ve never tried any of their products but have become increasingly aware of the company lately. I’m also becoming more conscious of what I eat in an effort to combat allergies. I would love to give them a try. Who knows? Maybe I’ll find a new favorite!
This morning when I went to the grocery the first section I went to was to look for the variety of flours I needed for some breads I want to bake this weekend. As I was walking toward that section, I was thinking of the Bob’s Red Mill products…
EVERYTHING I have tries from them is wonderful! I was introduced by a friend whose husband is gluten free. Bob’s Red Mill saved her sanity when she was beginning the gluten free process.
I like their GF flour for when I need something quick during cooking and don’t have time to mix up my own.
I love their products! We frequently use the wheat germ, white whole wheat flour, polenta, organic hot cereal & wheat germ!
I use Bob’s cornmeal.
love red mill products. count me in for the giveaway. thanks
We found out my son has celiac a few months ago. Since then, I’ve treid a lot of Bob’s GF products, but there are still many more I’d like to try. For instance, the pancake mix sounds great! Thanks!!!
I use plenty of Bob’s Red Mill products, but if I were to try something new, I’d have to say maybe Chia Seeds and Teff.
I would love to win some Bob’s Red Mill products! I have used Bob’s flour. In the future I would like to try the pancake mix and flaxseed! What a great giveaway!
Their’s is the only flower I buy! Love their grits/polenta too. 🙂
What don’t I love about Bob’s Red Mill??? I love going to the bulk section of their store and getting little bits of lots of things to play around with (I live about an hour away so I don’t get there often, but often enough). I think my favorite is the Mighty Tasty Gluten-Free hot cereal – it truly is “mighty tasty”!
I found out in May that I have celiac and I am amazed at how expensive living GF can be! I would love to try the quinoa or any other their GF oats!
My family loves all of Bob’s pancake and waffle mixes!
I love their prices!
Lynn-I live in NC so there are not a lot of Bob’s products available but I have always wanted to try. I am sure their products are an excellent quality and how fun that you got a tour!
Never heard of it. But looks interesting. I’m going to have to find out more.
I love their Gluten Free biscuit and baking mix! The pancakes from the mix are wonderful! I have made GF dumplings from the recipe on their website. I would love to build up a collection of GF flours to make more of the recipes that they have on their website!
I would love to win this for my niece she just found out she may be allergic to wheat and rice. I have never tried their products but would like too!
I’d love to try some of their grains.
I so want to try the high fiber mix and the 13 bean mix. Love Bob’s!
We have only started trying to eat healthy and a friend gave me a recipe for some muffins that I used the Almond Flour in ~ they were fabulous, may have to go get some more for breakfast tomorrow. 🙂
I love Bob’s Red Mill products and appreciate so very much being able to purchase them in my local grocery store. I’m even more happy now, to know that the company is awesome too! Currently, I buy Quinoa, Baking Mix and Pancake Mix. Would like to try Almond Flour.
After seeing the “Bob” products in my local grocery store for quite some time, broke down and bought. Man…I’m glad I did because I’ve loved every product I’ve tried since then! I just wish I would have realized how close I was when I visited Portland for the first time this past fall. Thanks for the great post.
The majority of people in our family need gluten free products so Bob’s Red Mill has been an very valuable resource for us!! Have you tried out the 5 Grain Rolled Hot Cereal yet? YUMMEE…I like Oatmeal, but this is a step above…generally just add a Tablespoon or so of All Fruit Jam (Apricot is our favorite) and it is just perfect! The uncooked grains smell so nice, just opening the bag!! I actually first came across it rather recently at Big Lots of all places…they are now carrying some organic healthy stuff too.
I’d love to try their products, but if I won I’d pick gluten free products and give them to my good friend who NEEDS to eat gluten free and is always looking for a good gf product. It’d be great to be able to bless her this way!
Hmmm…something of theirs that I want to try that’s actually sitting in my cupboard is their blue corn meal. Not sure it’s gluten free, but we only need wheat free flours. I love mixing their sorghum and millet flours with tapioca starch…the trifecta of gluten free flour, in my kitchen!
What a great “field trip”! Thanks for sharing that with us!
My family goes to breakfast there often, we love it. I always use their WW flours.
Love Bob’s Red Mill! We use a number of their products, and I would be thrilled to win some! 🙂
Love the cornmeal! Love even more that Bob’s has a large selection at our local Walmart!
I would love to try their pancake mix! Thanks for hosting!
I would love to expand our family’s choices of whole grain products! We’ve been experimenting with our grain mill beyond wheat, this would be a great chance to “sample” some new food sources. Thanks Lynn!
I love Bob’s Flax seed.. I’ve tried a few of their flours and love to experient with the different flavors in baking
I eat their flax seed everyday and love it. I would be very interested in trying other products.
Pancake/waffle mix hands down, yummy:)
Pancake/waffle mix hands down, yummy:) I also love their glutton free options, so good!