KANSAS CITY, MO — Allan’s Bakery in Brooklyn, NY, one of the winners of Craft to Crumb’s Great Ingredients Giveaway, is putting the 1,000 lbs. of premium Farmer Direct Foods flour it received to good use.
Craft to Crumb sat down with Christian Smith, manager and specialty cake decorator for Allan’s Bakery, and Tim Webster, CEO of Farmer Direct Foods, to discuss what it meant for the New York bakery to be awarded the premium flour and for the flour company to participate in the giveaway.
As a third-generation family-owned and operated Caribbean bakery, Allan’s has proudly served the Brooklyn area for over 60 years. Christian shared that the bakery plans to use the flour to spread holiday cheer throughout New York in the upcoming months.
“We’ve already shared the great news with some of our community leaders, who were here this past Saturday and are very involved, one of them being Senator Myrie,” Christian said. “We are planning to donate some products that will be made with the whole wheat flour that we received. So, we’re looking forward to doing that during this upcoming holiday season.”
Allan’s Bakery hopes to open its first Manhattan, NY, location within the next few weeks and just celebrated its first anniversary of installing its cocktail bar and I within the current bakery.
Farmer Direct Foods’ flour is produced using regenerative farming practices, and the company focuses on sustainable, eco-friendly techniques.
When participants entered the giveaway, they were made aware of the Farmer Direct Foods’ approach and its commitment to artisan baked goods. After learning about these initiatives, Allan’s Bakery became more interested in entering the giveaway since its values align with flour supplier’s.
“I think that the initiative that is in place to ensure the production of the goods is treated in an equitable way is so amazing,” Christian said. “I think it’s fantastic that Farmer Direct Foods moves forward with this initiative, and I look forward to continuing this partnership.”
Farmer Direct Foods purchased a 30-year-old company, Heirloom Brands, and then launched a national brand less than a year ago. With hopes of increasing its brand recognition, the company has plans to bring its product to retail bakeries across the nation.
“We want to support the retail bakeries that are growing and expanding and doing interesting things like building cafes and bars and expanding their footprint and creating experiences for consumers,” Tim said. “That is our dream about where our product would end up.”
The Craft to Crumb Great Ingredients Giveaway was sponsored by the California Walnut Board and Farmer Direct Foods. Bite Me Bakery in Seattle received 1,000 lbs. of fresh California Walnuts.
