Patagonia Provisions Launches Organic Kernza Pasta
Sausalito, Calif. — Patagonia Provisions recently launched a new Organic Kernza Fusilli – a delicious, toothsome pasta made with a revolutionary perennial grain. The pasta is the company’s newest in an expanding line of Kernza products, joining its first-to-market small batch Kernza beers, and building on its commitment to scaling the environmentally beneficial perennial grain.
In keeping with Patagonia Provisions’ overall ethos and commitment to ecological stewardship, Kernza was chosen for its revolutionary climate-friendly properties. Its massive root system and perennial growth (meaning it stays rooted in place from year to year, unlike other grains, which must be planted annually) allow it to thrive without tilling or pesticides. It uses less water than conventional wheat, restores topsoil and draws down more carbon from the atmosphere than annual grains do. Once Kernza is harvested, its roots remain in the soil, holding carbon underground as they break down. Kernza also produces slender grains full of warm, nutty flavor—just right for pasta.
A combination of Kernza and semolina flours gives Patagonia Provisions Organic Kernza Fusilli its springy toothsome texture and impressive nutritional profile. Kernza is a better source of plant-based protein, fiber, and essential amino acids, when compared to annual wheat. Semolina has among the highest protein levels of any pasta flour (around 13%, compared to 9-11%, on average, for all-purpose flour), with enriched semolina also contributing B vitamins and antioxidants. This pasta contains more fiber than ordinary pasta; and with semolina gluten proteins being structurally sturdier than Kernza’s, the two flours paired together ensure noodles retain their integrity when boiled.
Patagonia Provisions Organic Kernza Fusilli is bronze-cut (aka die-cut), meaning it is extruded through perforated metal plates, made of bronze, that cut and shape the noodles. The centuries-old, artisanal technique creates a finished pasta with a porous texture that absorbs sauce better than pasta made from industrial Teflon dies, which are used for quicker production.
Kernza perennial grain comes from intermediate wheatgrass, a distant relative of wheat, and was developed by plant breeders at The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, a non-profit organization founded in 1976 that co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, truly regenerative agriculture at scale.
“In keeping with the principles that drive Patagonia Provisions’ award-winning, responsibly sourced foods, our Organic Kernza Fusilli supports a solution to the climate crisis, building on our success with the first commercial Kernza product to market – our Long Root beers” says Birgit Cameron, co-founder and head of Patagonia Provisions. “We are excited to continue to find delicious innovative ways to help scale Kernza. Full of warm, nutty flavor and a pleasing springy texture, our new pasta works well in just about every plant- or meat-based recipe, including comforting pasta bakes and pasta salads. Just as satisfying is knowing every bowl of Kernza pasta contributes to a healthier planet.”
“I love that my kids’ favorite meal—pasta—is now made from a perennial grain crop that promises to help sustain people on a global scale within their lifetime,” says Rachel Stroer, President of The Land Institute. “It’s a hopeful link to an ecologically sound future across generations.”
ABOUT PATAGONIA PROVISIONS
Founded by Yvon Chouinard and Birgit Cameron in 2012 and headquartered in Sausalito, CA, Patagonia Provisions offers responsibly-sourced food and beverage products. A certified B-Corporation, Patagonia Provisions’ mission is: We’re in business to save our home planet. Under Birgit’s direction, Patagonia Provisions looks to reexamine best practices in food sourcing and to work with farmers, growers, fishers and producers who are using organic and regenerative practices. The company works with like-minded advocates and producers to find solutions to the important environmental issues facing the food industry.
For More Information:
https://www.patagoniaprovisions.com
