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FRESH SHEET: Washington wheat stays local


Regan Oliver of Davenport, Wash., has her hands full with a messy piece of barbecue rib during last year's Pig Out in the Park.  
 (File / The Spokesman-Review)

More Eastern Washington wheat is staying closer to home.

Great Harvest Bread Co. stores in the Seattle area will be using organic wheat grown at Open Heart Ranch in Bridgeport, Wash., northwest of Spokane near the Columbia River, according to a news release.

The stores, including Ballard, Lake Forest Park and Sand Point Village, will start baking bread with the hard red wheat beginning this fall.

Open Heart Ranch is owned and operated by Wade and Jane Troutman. The land was homesteaded by Wade Troutman’s great-grandfather in 1902. It will be the first time in more than three decades the farmers sell their crop to someone in the state, the news release says. Like most Eastern Washington farmers, the Troutmans have sold their wheat to be shipped overseas.

Once the wheat is harvested this fall, the stores will switch from the organic Montana wheat they have been using for breads.

Open Heart Ranch, www.openheartranch.com, grows a variety of grains, fruits and berries. The Troutmans sell wheat and other products on their Web site.

Chef, Black Rock honored

The American Culinary Federation honored a Spokane chef and private Coeur d’Alene club at its recent national convention.

Spokane Athletic Club executive chef Raymond Delfino received the ACF President’s Medallion and The Club at Black Rock took home an Achievement of Excellence award in the private clubs or resorts category. In all, 79 chefs, culinary professionals and food-service establishments were honored across the country.

Get ready to Pig Out

You can get your pig on starting next Wednesday at the annual Pig Out in the Park party. The food and music extravaganza is now six days long.

More than 50 food booths will be sautéing, grilling, dipping and whipping your favorite treats from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Riverfront Park through Sept. 3. Nothing costs more than $7.95.

Go to www.spokanepigout.com for more details.