Humble beginnings.
The Bushels for Betsy (B4B) program was started in 1996 by the Oregon Wheat Foundation to turn the generosity of wheat growers into pancake and other baking mixes to help fight the battle against hunger in Oregon. On average, 5,000 – 7,000 lbs of baking and/or pancake mix is donated annually.
In 2007, the Oregon Wheat Foundation joined with Farmers Ending Hunger (FEH) to combine our efforts, as some wheat growers were donating directly to Farmers Ending Hunger. Since 2007, B4B has donated over $80,000 in cash to FEH!
Here’s how the program works:
How Wheat Farmers Help:
1. A grower (farmer) donates to the Bushels for Betsy program, with cash, or in bushels of wheat when the grain is sold.
- Grain donation: Farmers donate by the bushel through Bushels for Betsy, or by the acre through Farmers Ending Hunger (FEH) Commitment Form. The value of the grain gifted is sent from the co-op to FEH to GrainCraft for processing into flour. Farmers may use this Donation Form to designate your bushels donated.
- Cash donation: This is accumulated with other cash donations in a special account with the Oregon Wheat Foundation and sent annually to Farmers Ending Hunger for the purchase of flour. OWF Donation Form or online
2. The flour is transported to Continental Mills/Krusteaz where the perfect ingredients are added, and it is packaged into bags of baking mix. The beauty of our mix is that it is shelf stable. You only need to add water to the mix. It’s a versatile mix and can be used for pancakes, biscuits, muffins, dumplings and more!
3. The Oregon Food Bank sends trucks to pick up the mix from Continental Mills/Krusteax, and distributes it through their network of food banks throughout Oregon.