Dear friends, Recently, I announced that I was handing ownership of Bob's Red Mill over to my employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Over the years I have observed the purchase of many companies. More often than not, the dreams and values of the companies' founders are laid to waste in the endless march for money. For me, the decision was easy because I could not stand the thought of our stone-milling tradition, our mission to improve people's health through whole grains, and the love we put into every bag being compromised in any way. I'm still the chief miller of this com ...Read More

pany and intend to be for the rest of my life-but I'm not a young man. The best way for me to preserve the dream that my wife Charlee and I began realizing over forty years ago is to give my employees the means to stay true to our vision and to directly reap the rewards of their hard work long after I'm gone. The power of ownership is immeasurable and makes for happier employees, better products and satisfied customers. Thanks for choosing our brand and may you all cherish the fact that when you buy a package of it, you're casting a vote for a world where employees and good old-fashioned values come first. To your good health. A whole grain is a truly magical thing. Its three basic components are bran, endosperm and germ. Each part contributes its own special set of benefits. For example, the bran brings fiber, the endosperm brings protein and energy, and the germ brings vitamin B and E and a bunch of antioxidants. The mind-blowing thing about whole grains is that those separate elements all work together to produce health benefits that are greater than the sum of their parts. Ready to hear more? Thought so. Whole grains reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. What's more, they taste incredible and leave you feeling fuller longer. That helps keep the munchies at bay and your favorite jeans fitting like they should. Folks sometimes tell us that they love our whole grains but just can't find the time in their go, go, go, lives to cook them up. Challenge detected I Make delicious, love-infused whole grains that people can enjoy anywhere. Solution: scrumptious, handmade granola made from top-shelf ingredients! High-speed breakfast in rush hour traffic? Check. Midday snack? Check. Too wiped-out to make dinner? Check! Heat it up like porridge, drench it in cold milk or chomp it right out of the bag. Our new granolas do it all. Check out our other flavors, too, like natural, honey oat and apple blueberry. Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers. Write for a free catalog: Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods, Inc. 13521 SE Pheasant Court Milwaukie, Oregon 97222. Our product line is diverse and extensive. To explore our library of over 1400 recipes, visit us at www.bobsredmill.com.