Avena’s pulse and oat procurement team works closely to support farmers through seeding, growing, harvest and on to delivery at our milling facilities.
This partnership includes everything, from contracting acres to collaborating on sustainability initiatives and supporting local community food banks.
Avena’s farmers are critical to fulfilling our vision of partnering for safe, healthy diets and a sustainable world.
Avena Purity Protocol is a system of producing gluten-free oats that is anchored in long-term partnerships with farmers. Farmers who contract to grow Avena Purity Protocol oats follow stringent crop production protocols in order to maintain the purity of the oat crop. Avena, in turn, pays premium prices for this quality.
Protocols on the farm begin with field selection and continue throughout the crop year with seeding, growing, harvesting, cleaning and delivery to our gluten-free certified oat mills.
Avena Purity Protocol oat ingredients are traceable right back to the farmer and field.
Once a year, farmers are invited to get together with Avena’s procurement, FSQM (food safety and quality management) and sales and marketing teams for Grower School. These seminars are an opportunity to share best practices, communicate any new food safety or quality requirements and learn about end-use customers. Farmers also hear updates from Avena, our successes and challenges.
Avena hosts an annual Customer and Farmer Appreciation Day. This event is held on the farm and attended by global customers and farmers from across the Canadian Prairies, bridging the gap from farm to fork.