Grinnell Local Foods Coop

The early 1960s found Wayne and Betty Paul working hard to make a living from their central Iowa farm. Wayne had graduated from ISU with a degree in agriculture and was now eagerly implementing chemical farming methods on the 160 acres south of Laurel, IA, which he had purchased in 1959. Then everything changed. A friend introduced Wayne and Betty to the concept of chemical-free farming, using healthy fertilizers and natural techniques for weed and insect control. Deciding to give it a try, in 1964 Wayne stopped using chemicals...and thus he became one of the brave pioneers in what was to be known as the organic farming movement. Wayne began to look into grinding some of the grains into flour and cereal, starting out with basic cornmeal, oatmeal, and whole wheat flour and advancing to more best sellers-- 7-Grain Cereal, 7-Grain Flour, and 7-Grain Pancake Mix. Wayne and Betty continued to play an active role in the business until 2006 when the Lord called them home. Their second son, Steve, along with his wife and four of their six children, live on the farm and continue to work the business. Paul's Grains is definitely an old-fashioned, family-operated business...big enough to have what you're looking for, but not too big to lose that personal touch.