Several members of the Carolinas/Virginia NAMA Chapter gathered together on October 17 in Mount Airy, North Carolina for a tour of Gerard’s Bakery.

Gerard’s Bakery is owned by Mountain View Harvest Cooperative, a value-added cooperative formed as an alternative investment choice for its members that provides higher returns than production agriculture. A portion of the flour used by Gerard’s is made from identity-preserved wheat supplied by its members. Headquartered in Longmont, Colorado, Gerard’s sells unique breads and rolls to restaurant chains and food service sections of grocery and convenience store chains. 

Plant manager, Joe McGowan, conducted the tour. Following the tour, Robin Rhyne, president of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership, told members about how Gerard’s Bakery markets their products and about its impact on the local economy. Joanna Radford, a local farmer and shareholder in Mountain View Harvest Cooperative, also spoke about the agricultural production side of the business.