March 4, 2013 - 6:37am
Desert Durum
Southern AZ and CA grows a durum variety to the tune of of 300,000 tons in AZ alone, that is considered the best Durum grown in America that has a dark yellow color, large kernel, low moisture, high protein with the highest gluten. Almost all of it is exported to Italian pasta makers because of the high gluten and low moisture (for less shipping), but some is kept at home for a Phoenix area pasta maker and a few bread makers if you know a grower or someone that works at the pasta company. IF you can find some, it makes excellent durum bread. Here are some links that will tell you more - Happy baking.
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/fields-of-arizona-gold/Content?oid=1872196
http://www.arizonagrain.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=9
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was long gone, I got a pound of DD berries from the local Phoenix pasta maker but that was only because he was an old customer and I knew him well' I tries to get a farmer to grow it this year and have it milled at Hayden Milling in Tempe - the best laid plan. Sadly, no one could even get the seed and those that have it won't even let a little bit go to another farmer. It's like dope or something. So I will try to get some more berries within the next week and if i have to - grow it myself and get rich :-)