GOSHEN, Calif. — In a move that signals the rebirth of a dormant industry in the United States, Western Milling signed a letter of intent on May 4 with Italy’s Schiavi Seeds to become the first distributor of U.S.-grown certified hemp seeds since the crops’ regulation in 1938.
“Now is the time to bring it back,” says Jeff Chedester, Western Milling Seed Business Manager. “We are resurrecting an old industry that makes incredible products from an amazing plant.”
“On a personal note, I met with the management team and CEO, Kevin Kruse, of Western Milling. They are all great people,” says Andrea Schiavi, founder of Schiavi Seeds. “The experience Western Milling has in seed distribution in critical markets in the Western United States is very important. We are excited to have a partner like Western Milling that has a strong and established presence in these markets.”
Schiavi says the reintroduction of industrial hemp will have many applications in a variety of industries including; construction, automotive, aeronautics and agriculture. Schiavi also says hemp can be used to produce materials like fiberglass, hempcrete, paper, animal bedding, animal feed, beauty products and grains for human consumption. Perhaps the most popular demand for hemp will be Cannabidiol (CBD) to be used in a wide range of medicinal products.
“The future is very bright,” says Schiavi. “Europe and Canada have already benefited from this incredible plant. It’s time for the U.S. to start and become the market leader.”
Western Milling will be distributing certified hemp seeds in Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Nevada. Both Schiavi and Chedester believe the partnership is the beginning of a revolution and the continuation of an established friendship.
“Andrea has rights to some of the best hemp seed varieties in the world. He’s a wealth of knowledge and a very good friend as well,” says Chedester. “At Western Milling we are always looking for opportunities to better serve our customers. We feel this relationship allows us to do so.”
About Schiavi Seeds – www.schiaviseeds.com
Schiavi Seeds, LLC was established in 2015. Schiavi Seeds has exclusive rights in United States and Canada to several of the most desirable European hemp seed varieties in the world. These varieties are listed in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and The Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) varietal databases.
About Western Milling – www.westernmilling.com
Western Milling, LLC has roots in the animal feed business dating back to 1935. Western Milling became an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) in 2015. Today, Western Milling has operations across the western half of the United States. They are a large originator and merchandiser of commodities that serve the agricultural production market. Western Milling is also a manufacturer and distributor in the commercial animal feed, lifestyle animal feed, pet food, and the better-for-you human food spaces.
Did you know?
• While hemp and its more famous cousin, marijuana, are both varieties of cannabis sativa, one of the three main subtypes of the cannabis plant, they’re different in many ways.
• Hemp was selectively bred for a range of consumer and industrial uses and has been grown in the US for centuries. Industrial Hemp contains less than .3% THC. The fibers from the stalk can be used to make rope, clothes, and other textiles — and can even be used as an organic construction material. The seeds are also edible.
–Western Milling