Sask. farm makes its Wheat Crunch product using Khorasan wheat, an ancient grain that it has been growing for 10 years
From Our Farm to You is the slogan of Dosch Organic Acres’ Wheat Crunch snack food.
It is made from Khorasan wheat roasted in cold-pressed high-oleic safflower oil and comes in three package sizes and nine flavours.
Available in most large grocery stores and many health food stores across Western Canada, Wheat Crunch is produced by the Dosch family in Willow Bunch, Sask.
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Dean Dosch and his wife Darlene returned to full-time farming with Dean’s parents, Delmar and Yvonne, in 2000. The family switched to organic farming and now grows Khorasan wheat, an ancient grain originating in Iran, on approximately 350 acres, and other cereals, pulses and oilseed crops on 1,200 acres.
“We’ve been growing Khorasan wheat for about 10 years. It was a good seed to grow on our farm, as ancient grains like Khorasan like dry weather,” says Darlene. “It only grows in pockets of land in Saskatchewan. It’s more like a wild grass or a bit like durum.”
Looking for ways to add value to their organic crops, the Doschs started developing and marketing Wheat Crunch in 2019. Darlene credits the Saskatchewan Food Centre in Saskatoon for providing assistance.
“Having the Food Centre staff assist us with the creation of our product and educate us on how the food industry works allowed us to finally be capable and confident to move forward onto the next step, which was opening our very own facility here in Willow Bunch. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
Wheat Crunch is available in sea salt, salt and vinegar, ranch, barbecue, buffalo ranch, dill pickle, ketchup, crushed garlic and cracked pepper, and cinnamon sugar flavours. The first three are the most popular.
“We basically looked at potato chip companies and what they have been selling over the past 20 or more years and chose flavours that were consistently selling on the store shelves. We then did many taste-testing samples with trying to get the right organic flavours.”
Once the product was ready for market, 90 per cent of the work was persistence in contacting stores and distributors to make the right connections.
While successful in having grocers, drug and health food stores stock Wheat Crunch, the family also travels to trade shows and expos to staff a display booth and invite people to try the product.
“Anytime we open a new territory, it is key for us to get out there and get it into the public’s hands for them to try — as many people as possible,” says Darlene.
They recently attended a trade show in Anaheim, California, as they prepare to send Wheat Crunch into the U.S. market. They’re also working to secure retailers in Eastern Canada.
Wheat Crunch can be ordered online and the Doschs offer a fundraising option through their website.
As sales grew, the family moved product processing from a facility in Saskatoon to what was formerly a school in Willow Bunch. In addition to the Dosch family, up to five people work at the plant.
“We’re in the process of expansion with our warehouse and equipment,” says Darlene, adding that the cooking process is becoming more automated.
The Doschs sponsor local and provincial sports teams, including U-15 curlers, hockey players and golfers. They also donate product to summer camps and charitable organizations.
“We want to give back to our local communities. Athletes like our product because it’s high in protein.”
