The Story of Grain Place Foods
It all began on the Vetter family farm near Marquette, Nebraska in 1953. That is when Don Vetter, questioning the science and ethics of the agricultural practices of the day, began to adopt organic farming methods.
Don’s son David returned to the farm in 1975 after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in agronomy/soil science from the University of Nebraska, and a Master of Divinity Degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. For David, organic, sustainable farming methods became an application of both biological and theological principles.
The Vetters were true pioneers, being among the first in the region to take the organic challenge. Their courage and perseverance paid off; the farm was certified organic in 1978, and became The Grain Place, Inc. in 1979.
The next step was to add grain cleaning and storage facilities to serve small-scale organic farmers and specialty organic food distributors and processors. This was one of the first on-farm operations of its kind in the northern Great Plains. In 1987, Grain Place Foods, Inc. was created to take advantage of value-added manufacturing opportunities,and assumed the grain processing business of The Grain Place.
Now a well-established and growing business, Grain Place Foods is operated by a staff of two dozen highly trained individuals, several of whom have been with the company for over 15 years.
The mission of Grain Place Foods is to provide to its customers grain products that are grown and produced in an ecologically sustainable and socially responsible manner – with the conviction that how your food is produced does matter!
More information about the future of our regenerative organic farm can be found at Grain Place Foundation’s website here.
Want to find out more about the Vetter family farm, the processing center and organic production in general? Check out the recent 77 minute documentary directed by Bonnie Hawthorne called Dreaming of a Vetter World here.
The current goal is establishing Regenerative Organic Certified corn, soybeans, popcorn and ebarley available for high end specialty snacks and blends. The ROC standards place emphasis on 3 pillars above the USDA organic requirements which include Soil Health, Social Justice and Animal Welfare. Find out more here.*
2019-2020 Organic Cert with Schedule