For years I have used Dakota Maid flour. The price was ideal -- less than half of Gold Medal or Pillsbury. The product was superior. I couldn't figure out why it was priced so nicely.
I know food prices have gone up. (Those blasted politicians and the global-warming elitists and their ethanol....) But what has happened to my flour prices has boggled the mind. 79 cents up to a year ago. Then 89 cents a bag. Up to $1.29 in fall. Up to $1.89 in January. This week it was $3.39 for a 5#-bag. Yikesy!! This time I bought King Arthur instead.
Wondering what happened, I started web-searching. Turns out that the Dakota Mill is the only government-owned mill in the country. I have this sinking feeling that someone discovered that their prices were low, and decided to quadruple the price to make up for having sold their product for too little for so many years. Granted, it's a superb product, but not many people are going to continue on as customers when the flour costs 50% more than the name-brand products.
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King Arthur flour is Wheat Montana flour, I think. A good solid family farm - worth supporting!
ReplyDeleteI love their Prairie Gold flour.
Actually, Susan, the cost of flour has just gone through the roof. I think that some companies have been charging enough all along to keep their prices stable. But, prices all around are sure to creep up. Some bakeries are finding it hard to stay in business, as the price of wholesale flour has TRIPLED.
ReplyDeleteThe increase is due to the rising cost of gas and energy. Some farmers are now growing less wheat and growing more corn, which is being used for ethanol.
Maybe it will even out. I see more fields greening up with spring wheat around me here in Central Flyover Country than in previous years!
ReplyDeleteThere's a piece on Dakota wheat and flour prices, and the mill that produces Dakota Maid, in the Washington Post today.
ReplyDeleteI too am an avid baker and for years loved the Dakota maid bread flour. I now live in Fl and can't possible afford it with the shipping cost.
ReplyDeleteYes King Arthur is a good substitue, but how I long to use the best!! Suggestions are welcome ... sniff...sniff...
I am also in FL and looking for bread flour I can afford! Did you ever end up finding anything? Seems Sam's here doesn't sell the Dakota Maid =(
DeleteDo they sell King Arthur there? It's my second-best to Dakota Maid.
DeleteThanks for the suggestion Susan! They do have King Arthur here, and I'm thinking about trying it, but it's quite expensive.
DeleteKing Arthur is expensive, but I find the quality to be worth at least twice the cost of the other major brands.
DeleteOkay, I'll try it on your recommendation =)
DeleteActually you can buy it directly from the mill for 12.50 for a 25lb sack.
ReplyDeleteI have been buying Dakota Maid unbleached bread flour at my local Sam's club. Comes in 25 lb bags, but does not take long to use up if you are baking bread on a regular basis. Can't remember the exact price but $12.50 per bag sounds about right (same as mill direct).
ReplyDeleteThat's about what it's running in our grocery store now. That's a lot more than the 18-cents a pound I was used to before 2007, but (hooray!) it's way down from when it was pushing $4 per 5# bag.
ReplyDeleteWhat state do you live in? I live in Fl and would gladly travel to a Sams's to get Dakota Maid Bread Flour to any County withing reason. I live in the Tampa Bay area, I shop at Sams's and have never seen it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help!!
I don't shop at Sam's, but in Illinois and Wisconsin, Dakota Maid is usually available at Woodman's.
ReplyDeleteWe get it at Sams Club in Onalaska, WI and the cost is great. About $9 for 25 pounds of their Bread flour. All purpose is the same price and some great flour it is..
ReplyDeleteWe get the bread flour at Sams club in Onalaska, WI for under $9 a 25 pound bag. All purpose is the same price there. Amazing flour it is even for anything, even cookies.. All we get now is the bread flour..
ReplyDelete