Thanks Don, I am always appreciative of the share. We must focus on the markets, go to market partners, processing, and education. Awareness with influencers, chefs, buyers, and consumers is critical for the adoption of underutilized crops and for the markets to gain any traction. Unfortunately, the Proso millet market had more growers this year but then without any market development, it was harmful to the economics for the farmers unfortunately. We will keep working but there are so few people working on this critical side of the equation and almost no financial support so it remains very difficult. Warm regards, Joni On Sun, Dec 31, 2023 at 8:44 AM Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> wrote:
Here's a recent article on the potential for proso millet in the Pacific Northwest, which includes thoughts from NAMA co-founder Joni Kindwall-Moore on the potential of this crop in general:
"Year of Millets: Farmers willing, but market needs to develop," by Matthew Weaver, Capital Press (Salem, OR), 26 Dec. 2023 https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/grains/year-of-millets-farmers-willi...
I hope Joni won't mind my copying her additional comments on posting this article to LinkedIn:
"Thank you Matthew Weaver at the Capital Press for doing a follow-up on the work we have been doing to develop our domestic Millets (including Sorghum) industry.
"We have made strides this year in pushing for education and promotion thanks to the United Nations/FAO Year of Millets and several domestic organizations like the North American Millets Alliance (NAMA), the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, and Nate Blum's visionary work at Sorghum United.
"Hundreds of conversations with farmers have left me feeling confident that there is a major yearning to plant more climate-resilient crops like millets to diversify their rotations and transition to crops that require less water, fewer chemical inputs and positively impact soil health.
"We can not fuel regeneration without the diversification of crops. But this requires diversification of markets.
"Unfortunately, the markets are not developing as fast as we need them to for a variety of reasons. Several factors persist that are hampering the development of market segments that support crop diversity and the adoption of millets.
"First and foremost, I will say that I am personally extremely disappointed at the lack of interest in crop diversity and climate-resilient crops in general from leaders in the Natural Products industry. We tried to raise awareness and put millets on the topics of conversations at events like Expo West and in buyer groups at leading retailers like Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market but they were stubbornly unreceptive to the topic.
"Interestingly enough, the 3 retailers who wanted to hear about millets and the potential role they play in the food system of the future were Walmart, The GIANT Company and Market of Choice. I am so appreciative of their willingness to lean in, take responsibility, and truly understand the pivotal role that retailers will play in shaping the food system of the future.
"They invited the conversations, they wanted to learn. I applaud them!
"While very positive conversations continue, I refuse to just sit here and watch other nations lead the transformation toward a climate-resilient food system, the sluggish adoption of the US markets is truly a shame.
"We will keep pushing these initiatives domestically because of the critical role that climate-resilient crops play in the future of our food system." (Joni Kindwall-Moore at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joni-kindwall-moore-57a81014_year-of-millets-... )
Don
DO, EL, MI, US NAMA
bcc: Matthew Weaver
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