The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

846: Exploring Ancient Grain Traditions with Don Guerra - A Rosie Replay

·38 min·3 clips

A James Beard award-winning baker reveals how he sold artisan loaves from his car at an elementary school.

The episode is a replay from Rosie on the House, hosted by Farmer Greg, featuring baker Don Guerra of Barrio Bread in Tucson, Arizona. Don shares his background as an anthropologist and educator who turned to baking after a chance encounter in Flagstaff led him to a bakery job. He describes founding Barrio Bread in 2009, starting with sales from his car at an elementary school and farmer's markets. A key moment was when ethnobotanist Gary Nabhan brought him Sonoran white wheat berries, and the aroma of fresh-milled flour convinced him to pursue local grains. Don explains that southern Arizona is a premier grain-growing region due to its natural drying cycle, and he now works with about 12 grain species from farms across the state. He details his community-supported bakery model, based on three pillars: outreach education, local grain economy development, and bread production. Don highlights the health benefits of sourdough fermentation, which reduces gluten and glycemic index, especially with ancient grains like einkorn. He mentions collaborations with local farms like Agritopia for dates and Hayden Flour Mills for milling. The episode includes practical advice, such as bread lasting seven days without preservatives and three months in the freezer. Don discusses his educational efforts, including teaching pizza-making to children and online courses at breadlessons.com. He sources 350,000 pounds of local grain annually and emphasizes supporting indigenous farmers. The conversation concludes with resources for listeners to find his bread and flour.

As heard by us

A warm, bread-hungry look at heritage grains, regional farms, and the communities behind local flour.

Heritage grains become a story about place in this warm, bread-centered episode from Tucson and Southern Arizona. A guest from Barrio Bread explains how grain work can link bakers with farms, community food projects, and the economics facing growers, while the Rosie on the House…

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Why you'd press play

Trace a loaf back to Southern Arizona grain fields, Barrio Bread, and a baker bringing farmers and communities into the story.

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