Our Red Fife Wheat Berries are a great alternative for your typical Whole Wheat flour. Red Fife is a great wheat as it has not undergone a bunch of modern breeding. This means it has not suffered the loss of a rich nutrient profile due to intensive hybridization. For more detailed information on it, read below.

Pricing:

2lb – $4

5lb – $8

50lb – $40

For more info or ordering:

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To understand Red Fife, you have to look at what it isn’t. Most of the wheat grown in the United States today is the result of intensive hybridization in the mid-20th century. These modern varieties were bred for short stalks (to prevent wind damage) and massive yields. While they are efficient, many bakers and eaters feel they lost a specific depth of flavor and nutritional complexity along the way.

Red Fife is different. It is a “landrace” grain, meaning it hasn’t been narrowed down by laboratory breeding. It is a hard red wheat that predates the industrialization of agriculture. When you look at the berries, they have a distinctive reddish-tan hue. When you taste them, they offer notes that modern wheat simply can’t touch: a mix of nutty, sweet, and even a hint of cinnamon or baking spice.

Because it is a hard wheat, it has a high protein content, often ranging between 13% and 15%. This makes it a natural fit for bread baking. However, unlike modern “powerhouse” bread flours that can be incredibly elastic and tough, Red Fife provides a more balanced gluten structure. It produces a crumb that is soft and cohesive but still strong enough to hold a beautiful rise.

(From countrylifefoods.com)

To read more on the history of Red Fife, there’s a great article at the Canadian Encyclopedia.