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1850s
Pioneer Mills in Utah
Beginning in the 1850s, many lumber, wool, and grain mills started popping up around Utah. These mills helped pioneer communities become self-sufficient. In 1865 Gilt Edge Flour Mills was constructed in Richmond, Utah and in 1867 Central Milling was constructed in Logan, Utah. These two pioneer mills, along with two others, are the only remaining in operation today. Both mills originally milled flour using granite stones quarried from the Black Rock near Salt Lake City. Both were converted to roller mills in the 1890s.
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1917
Herb Weston purchases Central Milling
After acquiring the mill, Herb set out to expand its milling capacity and invested in modern roller milling equipment.
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1945+
Rise of industrial farming
After World War II, synthetic chemicals developed for military purposes became widely used in agriculture, leading early organic advocates to offer an alternative model.
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1953
From Water Wheel to Water Turbine
Although electricity started to make its way into Cache valley in September of 1880, not all businesses were able to harness it. In 1953 the original water wheel was replaced with a more modern water turbine since Central Milling still relied on water water power as a supplemental form of power generation.
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1972
First record of chemical free grain
George Perry, father of Lynn Perry (Central Milling’s current President), was a farmer interested in pursuing chemical-free flour. He brought in the wheat he grew and helped procure grain from other like-minded farmers. He had it milled by Central Milling and started selling it to ‘hippy colonies” in California. By 1972, one bin was dedicated to “chemical free” wheat.
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1990
Protecting Organics
The Organic Foods Production Act was passed in the U.S., which led to the creation of a national organic certification program. This act provided a legal definition for organic products and established rules for growing organic crops like wheat.
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1996
Path to Organic
In 1996, James Weston, Herb Weston’s son, sold the mill to Kent, Lyle, and Lynn Perry. They brought in Fred Weston (James Weston’s son and Grandson to Herb Weston) as head Miller and Keith Giusto who spearheaded the vision that led Central Milling down the path to become 100% organic.
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1997
Expanding for Traceability
During this time, we added the ability to produce flour milled from identity-preserved wheat; meaning we know every variety of grain that is used in every pound of flour we mill. To help accomplish this, we installed seven new bins at our Logan mill and eight new silos in Collinston to hold single varieties of wheat.
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2002
National Organic Plan (NOP)
The NOP standards officially took full effect, and the USDA began enforcing these regulations across the country for all organic products, including wheat.
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2005
Gilt Edge Flour Mill
Need description…
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2008
Financial Crisis
During the financial crisis of 2008, many people...
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2009
Back to Water Power
In the mid 1970s, the mill had stopped using water power but retained the rights on a diversion of the Logan River. In April of 2009, the turbine was reconditioned, put back into service, and runs our milling operations today. The system generates about 50 kilowatts per day for our Logan Mill.
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2020
COVID
Testament to …
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2024
A Partnership to Solidify our Future
Shortly after the pandemic, we realized that we needed additional milling capacity to do our part to continue to expand the the organic market.
Today, we're a healthy, thriving team that is committed to sustainability, quality, and innovation.
Partner With Us
Innovation and progress come from within our company, not from a boardroom. We are a company of dreamers and doers that care for each other as much as we do for every loaf of bread, pizza, cookie and plate of pasta that begins here.