Great River Organic Milling Review & Giveaway - Ends 7/13 CLOSED

The Company
Great River Organic Milling is located on the upper Mississippi River, in the heart of what is called the Hiawatha Valley. The natural beauty of the area is a constant reminder of the importance of our commitment to organic agriculture.

Organic, or sustainable agriculture is more than the avoidance of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. An organic farm strives to protect our environment by building and maintaining healthy soil which, in turn, improves water and air quality. It has been shown that grain and other food crops grown in a healthy soil, resist pests and diseases better than conventionally grown crops and also contain more vital nutrients important to humans. Consuming organic foods promotes the health of individuals and the land on which it was grown. In supporting organic agriculture we promote the cycle of a healthy environment which includes the lives of microorganisms, plants, and humans.

Most Great River flour is stone-ground. We believe the natural granite millstones contribute to the quality, taste and nutritional integrity of whole grain flour. Grain flowing into the stones becomes very thin, flat flakes which integrates all parts of the wheat immediately into the flour, allowing the flour to have more flavor. The cooler milling occurring with stones allows important enzyme activity to continue. Protein levels will also be maintained. Our stone-ground flours are milled to order, to retain the nutritional value of the flour.

Great River is Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International. and Kosher approved. This requires a yearly inspection of our records and milling facility to determine that the products labeled as organic are organically grown, processed and handled in accordance with applicable standards.



The Review
I was sent pure organic maple syrup, 7 grain bread flour, unbleached wheat flour, 5 grain pancake mix, and whole grain hot cereal to review.

Organic 5 Grain Pancake Mix
This mix is different from anything I have ever tasted before! The mix is easy to use & the pancakes cooked up perfectly! They were flatter but had a great grain flavor. They had a different texture than we are uses to but not in a bad way. We enjoyed these healthy pancakes made with Spelt flour, millet flour, oat flour, barley flour, brown rice flour, baking powder and salt.


Pure Organic Maple Syrup
This is the best syrup we have ever tasted! This syrup is a lot thinner than the thicker commercial syrup we are used to. This syrup is sweeter and has a great maple flavor. I have never had pure maple syrup before but now I will never go back to those artificial maple syrups ever again!



Highland Medley Whole Grain Hot Cereal
This combination of hard wheat, brown rice and wheat bran is a favorite for campers. It packs easily and cooks up quickly for a hearty morning meal.

We added sugar, cinnamon & milk to this hot cereal. My hubby said it reminded him of grits. I don’t like grits so I disagree because I thought this cereal was very tasty and required only a little sugar to sweeten, the texture was pleasing not grainy at all. I really liked this hot cereal and love that it is whole grain.

Bread Flour Blend Seven Grain
A basic wheat flour base with coarse ground wheat, brown rice, corn, oats, barley and millet. It bakes into a denser loaf with wonderful texture ad flavor.
I have not yet tried this flour but I am looking forward to making a seven grain bread in the near future.



100% Organic Bread Flour Unbleached Wheat
Great River's own "light whole wheat" flour. This flour has retained the germ but removed about 80 percent of the bran. It bakes into lighter bread than the 100 percent whole wheat flour and is therefore acceptable to those used to white bread but wanting to eat more whole grain breads. It also works well in bread machines on whole grain cycles. People who bake artisan hearth breads or European style breads will appreciate this flour.

For ideas on how to use their products check out their recipe section. I tried and really liked Shelly's Whole Wheat Bread Recipe.

Great River Organic Milling products are available for purchase at their online shop and at Amazon.

The Giveaway
One lucky caboose rider will win the same 5 Great River Organic Milling products that I received to review.

Mandatory Entries
1. You must be a Sampletrain member. New members register here.
2. Visit Great River Organic Milling and tell me something you like about the company or their products.

Extra Entries
3. "Like" Sampletrain on Facebook
4. “Like” Great River Milling on Facebook
5. "Follow" Sampletrain on Twitter
6. Rate Sampletrain on Alexa
7. Share on another social network or blog and post link here
8. Tweet this once per day (leave separate comment for each )

#Win Great River Organic Milling products from @greatrivermilling @Sample_Train #Giveaway ends 7/13 Enter at http://bit.ly/jNrWQp

Leave comments below for each entry you perform along with a link to your tweets. Be sure to number them accordingly.

Giveaway Guidelines and Disclosure
Product was provided for review, no monetary compensation was received. My product review is my honest opinion. Due to the new FTC rules, I was under no obligation to review any product if I so choose, Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the FREE product(s) received. The company is providing the prize(s) for this giveaway at no cost to me. Giveaway ends July 13, 2011 at 11:59PM CST. Open to US residents 18 and over. Winner/s will be picked via Random.org Winner will also be pm'd and will have 48 hours to reply before another winner is chosen.

1. Sampletrain member
2. love the maple syrup
3. Like Sampletrain on Facebook
4. Like Great River Milling on Facebook
5. Follow Sampletrain on Twitter
6. Rated Sampletrain on Alexa
7. Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/moonrae17/status/85536055637458944

8. I am a Sampletrain member

9. I visited Great River Milling website. I loved taking the virtual tour and learning some great history about their business

10. I like Sampletrain on Facebook

11. I like Great River Milling on Facebook

12. I rated Sampletrain on Alexa

13. Sampletrain member
14. I liked the recipes that they have
15. Like Sampletrain on Facebook
16. Like Great River Milling on Facebook
17. Follow Sampletrain on Twitter

18.http://twitter.com/#!/moonrae17/status/85689241711030272

19 I am a Sample Train Caboose Rider
20 I would love to try their Graham Flour. Perhaps I could make my own graham crackers
21 Great River Organic Milling FB fan
22 I like Sample Train on FB
23 I follow Sample Train on Twitter
24 I wrote a review on Alexa ~royalegacy
25 I shared this giveaway on my blog
http://royalegacy.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-giveaways-at-sample-train.html
26 http://twitter.com/#!/royalegacy/status/85747872452186112

27 I am a sampletrain member
28 I like that the company strives to keep their soil free of junky chemical
fertilizers and pesticides to not only grow better Organic product but to help keep the soil water clean making it better for the environment.
29 I like sampletrain on facebook
30 I like Great River Organic Flour Milling Co on Facebook
31 I follow sampletrain on twitter
32 I rated on Alexa
33 Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/theresec13/status/85768200318492672

34. Sampletrain member
35. Love their recipes and their logo
36. Like Sampletrain
37. Like Great River Milling
38. Follow Sampletrain
39. Wrote review on Alexa
40. Tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/BrookAnn/status/85842057129758720

41. Sampletrain member
42. Visited website, and would love the Highland Medley Cereal
43. Like Sampletrain on Facebook
44. Like Great River Milling on Facebook
45. Follow Sampletrain on Twitter
46. Rated Sampletrain on Alexa
47. Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/hslyons/status/85910122387349506

48 I am a train rider
49 White flour is high in gluten and gives the bread a better rise.
50 I like ST on FB
51 I follow ST on twitter
52 I reviewed on ST on Alexa
53 http://twitter.com/#!/curlfusion/status/85924091957231616

54. http://twitter.com/#!/moonrae17/status/86018623310802944

55. Sampletrain member
56 love the maple syrup
57. Like Sampletrain on Facebook
58. Like Great River Milling on Facebook
59. Follow Sampletrain on Twitter
60. Rated Sampletrain on Alexa
61. Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/snowman99999/status/86054950458761217

62 http://twitter.com/#!/theresec13/status/86141817338339329

63. I am a Sample Train Caboose Rider
64. I like the fact that Great River is Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International and Kosher approved
65. I like SampleTrain on FB
66. I like Great River Milling on FB
67. I follow SampleTrain on Twitter
68. I wrote a review on Alexa
69. http://twitter.com/#!/Turq101/status/86180658451451904

70 http://twitter.com/#!/hslyons/status/86247858981961728

71 http://twitter.com/#!/snowman99999/status/86423906939977728

72 http://twitter.com/#!/hslyons/status/86430814392434688

73 I like st on fb
74 like Great River Milling on fb
75 follow st on fb
76 rated st on alexa
77 http://twitter.com/#!/bet_lou/status/86464561326202880

78 http://twitter.com/#!/royalegacy/status/86467671738167296

79. http://twitter.com/#!/Turq101/status/86587257343057920

80. http://twitter.com/#!/moonrae17/status/86589899150589952

81 http://twitter.com/#!/curlfusion/status/86646576956715008

82. http://twitter.com/#!/moonrae17/status/86743182410391552

83 http://twitter.com/#!/bet_lou/status/86747892961914880

84 http://twitter.com/#!/snowman99999/status/86794129853526016