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 have never used Red Mill, but would love to try a few things
Have never used Bob’s Red Mill products so this would be a good opportunity to try them. I love your e-letter every day and have used many of your recipes.
I love Bob’s Red Mill flaxseeds. I just found them and have been sprinkling the whole seeds on salads or grinding them to mix into other things. Great for adding a little fiber and flax oil/omega-3s to the diet!
I recently bought bob’s red mill spelt and used it to make my blender pancakes that I usually use whole wheat berries. It was delicious and had a slightly different flavor than regular wheat. I would love to try some of their other products.
We love Bob’s Coconut Flour, Gluten free Pizza Dough Mix and Spelt flour. How cool that you got to tour the plant!
Bob’s Red Mill has made being gluten free much easier for our family.
How fun to put a face to the products. What a cute factory. I would LOVE to try so many things! I’m really interested in trying spelt and the 7 grain waffle mix sounds wonderful!
I’ve never used any of Bob’s Red Mill products, but I’m hearing
more about coconut flour. Would love to try it!
Bob’s Red Mill – Flax seed, I’ve tried. I like the freshness – how awesome to have 90% product turnover every few weeks.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Thank you for the giveaway! I’ve never tried Bob’s Red Mill before, and would be interested in trying their granola or muffin mix.
I haven’t met a Bob’s Red Mill product I didn’t like! I love all the gluten free products we have tried to date.
I love their muffin mix!
During my brief time following a GF diet, I truly appreciated having Bob’s Red Mill available to me. Since finding out that gluten was not what was bothering me, I still buy Bob’s Red Mill products.
I couldn’t live without Bob’s ground flax seed 🙂
i have used their brown rice flour just to experiment with some things. i would love to try some of their other products, too. and if i ever get to oregon, i will hope to visit their mill.
We too had a period where we three had to eat gluten free. I loved Bob’s. I remember the GF mixed hot cereal & the bread mix the most.
Thanks for the behind the scenes look.
Donna
I’ve tried the Bob’s Red Mill High Fiber Oatmeal, love it. I would love to try coconut flour!
I am torn. I would really like to try the coconut flour- I’m hearing so much about that these days. But then I think I should try something gluten free so I can bake for my sister who is newly diagnosed gluten-intolerant. hmmm-so many choices! Thanks for the giveaway!!
I love Bob’s Red Mill Couscous. It’s one of our favorite side dishes and it’s the most affordable i’ve found. I also like their wheat & semolina flours.
I love all of the baking mixes. My daughter is GF and they r great.
I Love Bob’s Red Mill soup mixes, I usually have several varities on hand, ( they freeze well) and make them for my father all winter. Great variety
Thanks,
Maryann
Wow I love factory tours!!! I’ve never tried any of Bob’s stuff, but I think a free pack would motivate me to get started 😉
I have always loved this brand, too. I use several of the products already, but would love to try the coconut flour.
I have tried several of Bob’s Red Mill items when I decided to try more gluten free eating. I have been very happy with them and use the ground flaxseed all the time for my kids and family. I would love to try other items they have to offer as well.
I have always had an interest in this brand, but have not had a chance to try any of them. In fact, I have a lot of the different kinds saved in a wishlist of foods to try. Of all of them, I would probably want to try one of the what flours or granola’s first, but they all sound awesome! Thanks for this giveaway!
I always buy Bob’s flax seeds, but wasn’t aware of some of the other products they sold until I went to the website. You’ve enlightened me!
We have been wanting to try the gluten free flour and stuff. My hubby has been told to go gluten free and it has been a struggle.
My favorite Bob’s Red Mill product (so far at least) is the corn bread mix. It has wheat flour as well as corn meal but tastes great. The kids never know it is whole wheat!
I would love to try the Quinoa and the Corn Grits Polenta.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Loved everything we ever tried from Bob’s! Would love to try some more!
I have never tried these products but would love to see if I can find them. I think I would start with the bean soup!
I would love to try their Buttermilk Biscuit mix.
I love Bob’s Red Mill products and would love to win this giveaway. I just recently bought their baking powder and love that the only ingredient in it is sodium bicarbonate. I would love to try one of their muffin mixes.
I use their flour all the time, and I would love to try some of their mixes!!
I’ve never tried these products before, but have seen them around and always heard good things about them. I would like to try one of their bean soup mixes or a pancake mix!
I love that I can add so many of their products to my homemade granola to boost the nutritional value!
Bob’s Red Mill flax seed….we have about eight packages in the basement to ensure I never run out! Apple Banana wheat muffins w/flax seed is a favorite in this house.
I sue alot of Bobs Red Mill products. I love the GF certified Oats, chickpea flour, millet, flax meal and potato starch. Finding GF products, especially Oats, where you dont have to worry about cross contamination, isnt always easy and we’ve never had problems with thier products.
Karla
I would love to try some Bob’s Red Mill products. My family enjoys trying new things and these sound very high quality and delicious.
Thanks
I would love to give teff a try, among other things. I’ve enjoyed Bob’s Red Mill products for several years. Thank you for your tour story.
I have tried several of Bob’s Red Mill products, including their polenta/corn grits. They are good as polenta, in cornbread, or added to cornmeal breading for fish. I would like to try some of their mixes, lots of great stuff from this company!
I’ve never tried Bob’s Red Mill products, but they sound wonderful. I would like to have the chance to try them. Thank you for the opportunity.
We like Bob’s Red Mill products and I’d be so happy to win this!
I have never tried any of Bob’s Red Mill products so I’m up for trying anything.
Thanks!
I love the bean soup mix.
Gluten Free Brownies are awesome!
I would like to try coconut flour and chia seeds. I already buy oat bran and flaxseeds. I’m sure that I could come up with 2 more things to try.
We love their pancake & waffle mix!!
Thanks!
Please enter my name in the giveaway. I’m becoming more into cooking/baking and would love to try healthier options!
I have never tried their products, but I would love to!
I love the pancake mixes. I have never tired the other things, but would love to.
What a fabulous giveaway!
I have been trying the Bread in 5 minutes a day method. It seems to take longer than the title of the book makes you believe, but I would welcome some products to make different types of bread.
I live in the Portland area. We love Bob’s in this area. They make a great product and they take wonderful care of their employees. They aren’t our secret anymore….
I would love to try their products!
I have been reading your posts for quite some time since I love to cook and you have inspired me to try Bob’s Red Mill products. I don’t eat gluten free but have a friend that I’m always searching for new things for her to try since she has celiac (sp?) disease. I’ve also told her about your blog and the recipes that you post that are gluten free. She is always grateful for any new ideas. Keep up the good work for us that aren’t gluten free and those that are!
I have tried a few of d Bob’s Red Mill products. Good products
What a fabulous company. Our family really enjoys the pancake mix and the buckwheat mix. I’ve always wanted to try the almond flour and the coconut flour. Thanks for the opportunity!
I actually have not tried any of the Bob’s Red Mill products before even though I coo and awe over them every time I am at the store. Yesterday I purchased a 32oz bag of their gluten free oatmeal and I am so very excited to try it. I of course want to try their other gluten free products, but because of our budget being tight… mistakes cannot be made. If something isn’t liked by someone in the family, that would be a big hit! Gah! I’ve been recommended their products before though, so I would love love love to try some.
I do love Bob’s products. I’m keen on the flax seed.
I absolutely love their products! I buy their various flours and make my own GF blend so that I can bake yummy things for my GF friends. 🙂 So I guess I’d have to say that their flours are my favorite product, although I do plan to try some of their other products once the health food store near my house opens.
I have my own grain mill, but still love Bob’s products. My most recent purchase is quinoa and I’d love to try some others.
I really like Bob’s Red Mill Organic Gluten-Free Wheat-Free Quinoa
I love the steel cut oats. A bowl of oatmeal with toasted walnuts, banana slices and real maple syrup!
I love the steel cut oats & I only buy them from Bob’s Red Mill–Delicious! And I would love to try some other fun Bob’s Red Mill products if I win 🙂
I think it would be neat to be able to tour the plant … glad you were able to do it!
My sis- in- law is gluten intolerant, so I used their mix to bake bread. She thought it was really good. I’d love to try lots of their products!
My family is a loyal BRM household. Their GF products have given us a way to cook for the whole family without having to leave our 2 year old daughter out. She is Gluten Intolerant and With their various flours, I am able to cook and bake meals for our family that we can all share together!
Thanks Bob’s Red Mill!
The Wright Family
I would love to try Bob’s Red Mill ground flax seed or any of their products!
There are so many products that I would love to try. Too hard to pick just one!
I love to make my “magic muffins” with Bob’s wheat germ, aluminum free baking soda and powder. They truly are SO healthy. I use molasses instead of sugar and add raisins. YUM!
I have not tried any of Bob’s Red Mill as of yet. I’m excited at the prospect of trying some of their items.
I love Bob’s, too! It is such a relief, having to eat gluten free along with several others in my family, that you can trust Bob’s. Although we use alot of his products, I try to buy the rolled oats for oatmeal since I have heard the regular oats are cross-contaminated with wheat. None of us have ever had a bad reaction to them, so I keep buying them. Love your blog!
I have seen the products many times in the grocery store but have never tried them. This would be a great opportunity to try them (although I may have to add them to my grocery list this week!)
I would love to try it. I’ve heard good things about it.
We just recently checked out these products. I got the aluminum free baking soda.
I would love to try their blue corn meal. I think my boys would love the change in color 🙂
I’ve never tried any of Bob’s Red Mill products. They are sold in the health food section of the grocery, which we find too pricey. Would love to try them.
I eat Bob’s 8-grain cereal almost every morning and love it! I also use Bob’s rolled oats and will consider other products if I happen to be the lucky winner! Thanks.
I would love to try their GF flours 🙂 I already use Rice flour but would love to try a blend or bean flour. thanks for the giveaway!
I have been wanting to try the almond flour to make some macaroons.
Bob’s Red Mill products are AWESOME! They have a great polenta mix!
I am new to Bob’s Red Mill products. I have only tried their GF Flour and I like it. I would love to try other products.
I love Bob’s Red Mill products! I can’t pick a favorite, but my most used is definitely the whole wheat flour. I use it ALL the time! I love all his products that I have tried! I also love the rolled oats!! Thanks for the great giveaway!
I’ve used several of Bob’s Red Mill’s Gluten free line when I was testing a gluten free diet a few years back… If I won this, however, I’d let a friend choose the products. She is brand-newly diagnosed with Celiac, and understandably a little overwhelmed!
LOVE Bob’s Red Mill. It’s hard to find gluten free products at a great price. We have (right now in my pantry) Bob’s gluten free pancake mix, gluten free oats, gluten free cornbread mix, also regular 7 grain cereal and whole grain pancake mix. My husband is gluten free and although I make much of his bread products from scratch, Bob’s Red Mill gives me a break with a great product when I don’t have time to make from scratch. I LOVE that there is always a HIGH number of grams of fiber in his products. Can’t say enough good about Bob’s Red Mill!
Thanks, Lynn, for the giveaway. I think I would choose the adzuki beans and some pancake mix, and maybe steel-cut oats. There are so many choices!
I would love to try some almond meal!!
I love Bob’s Red Mill Products. I use their flax meal in
my raisin bran muffins.
I eat the High Fiber Hot Cereal every morning. It has a good flavor & I get a boost on my daily fiber.
I’ve used a lot of Bob’s products, and liked almost all of them – they are great quality! I like how they put recipes on the back of their small bags you see on store shelves…
Ooh, I want to try to make some cookies with the coconut flour.
I have used several of the products, but most recently have used the flax seed.
I’ve seen their mixes before and wanted to try them. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love Bob’s Red Mill!!
I have a home baking business, and have been looking everywhere for Bob’s Red Mill Potato Starch for my cakes, and no one carries it here in town! I would love to be able to get some!!
My husband and I make waffles or pancakes every Saturday so we would love to try Bob’s Red Mill mix!
I like their Muesli, but there are lots of other items I would love to try!
I love the fact you can get any kind of flour you need. Right now I have the corn flour and rye flower in my kitchen.
I have used the corn flour, it is wonderful. Would love to try anything!