A Trip to Bob’s Red Mill

I took a drive out to Bob’s Red Mill last week to do a little shopping and thought you might like to come along to see this amazing place. They ship their huge product line all over the country and the headquarters of their operation is right here in Portland, Oregon.  Bob’s Red Mill has been bringing its customers the best in whole grain products for over 30 years.  I don’t think there are many serious food bloggers who haven’t heard of Bob’s Red Mill and tried items from their vast product line. Bob says it was the commitment of his wife of over 50 years, Charlee, to feed their family healthy, unprocessed food that led to the founding of their company.   In 1988 a fire destroyed their original store in Oregon City and they began the construction of a  320,000 square foot manufacturing facility that covers over seventeen acres.  The Red Mill is easily accessible from anywhere in Portland and is a stop you want to make if you are visiting the area.  You can enter your zip code here to find stores in your area that carry Bob’s Red Mill products.

  Featuring the entire Bob’s Red Mill product line, plus kitchen essentials, bulk foods, books and nutritional information, the store is a food lover’s paradise. If you have questions or need advice on any of  their products, just ask one of the friendly staff.  If you timing is good you might even see Bob or hear him playing his beloved piano.

The mill’s slow turning quartz, cool grinding millstones can be finely calibrated to create nutritious flours in a wide variety of textures from every size grain found in cultivation.

The Whole Grain Store, kitchen, bakery and Visitor’s Center cover over 15,000 square feet.

Bob’s 81st birthday was a very special occasion for his company. Rather than receiving gifts, he decided to give his greatest gift away — his business. Bob surprised all his employees by giving them total ownership of Bob’s Red Mill through an Employee Share Ownership Program (ESOP). For those who know Bob, it’s another example of his kind-hearted generosity. As Bob puts it “It was just the right thing to do. I have people that have worked with me for over 30 years and each and every one of them deserve this.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful to work for someone who thought that way?

The company produces an ever expanding line of gluten-free products. More information about their manufacturing facility and product line can be found here and here.   Maintaining a gluten free diet isn’t a lifestyle choice for many Americans. It’s a medical necessity for those who have Celiac Disease. Gluten free diets have also been discovered by parents of autistic children to yield positive behavioral effects. The company has responded to this growing need by increasing the number of gluten free products that they sell, now over 50 products, and offer unmatched selection and nutrition to those who depend on it most.

The store carries all of the company’s products so there is a lot to see and learn.  You can easily spend several hours browsing the aisles and I always buy more than I think I will.

The bulk food section holds hundreds of The Red Mill’s products.  I like buying this way because I can try a small amount of something new  or buy a specific amount for a particular recipe.

There are lots of interesting pieces of old milling equipment decorating the store.

 The bakery and kitchen serve delicious meals made with company products.   There is a very comfortable place to get a meal or quick snack inside the store or on a nice day you can sit outside and enjoy a lovely view from the patio.

I hope you have enjoyed this little excursion to Bob’s Red Mill.  I love writing about my city and hope you will plan to visit some day soon.

Here are a few blog posts that feature the greater Portland area and what it has to offer.

Portland ~ What to do, Where to stay

Travel Notes: Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock

Oregon’s Scenic Columbia Gorge and Multnomah Falls

Portland’s International Rose Test Gardens at Washington Park

Portland’s Thriving Food Cart Culture

This post is linked to:

Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

On The Menu Monday at StoneGable

To stay up to date with the latest recipes and travel posts from Wives with Knives, please subscribe here.

Tagged as: Oregon, Travel