The pasta many of us enjoy on a regular basis was likely born on a farm in North Dakota. Pasta is traditionally made from durum wheat, of which North Dakota is the largest producer, and that durum finds its way to consumers' plates around the country and around the world. Our state produces about 50 million bushels of durum each year which equates to 60 percent of the national total and enough durum to make nearly 17 billion servings of spaghetti.
Some of North Dakota's durum is processed right here in the state. Minot Milling, based in Minot, ND is a division of Philadelphia Macaroni and mills durum for internal use and for sale on the open market. Philadelphia Macaroni was started in 1914 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Dakota Growers Pasta Company, a subsidiary of Viterra is based in Carrington, ND and mills durum and manufactures pasta. The North Dakota Mill also mills a small percentage of durum.
The largest portion of North Dakota's durum is sold to mills across the U.S. and around the world. Italy is consistently the largest buyer of U.S. durum, followed by Algeria, Nigeria and Venezuela. So the next time you are enjoying a healthy and tasty pasta dish, remember it likely was “born” in a field near you!
Because of the importance of the durum and pasta industries to our state, the North Dakota Wheat Commission will once again be celebrating National Pasta Month in October and Pasta Lovers' Week October 21-27. Throughout the month, the NDWC will partner with newspapers and radio stations around the state in recognizing our state's durum producers and their contribution to the pasta industry by offering pasta prize packages to lucky winners.
The Commission will provide newspapers and radio stations with trivia and crossword puzzles full of durum and pasta facts. Winners will receive a prize package that includes a pasta month t-shirt featuring this year's “North Dakota – Where the Best Pasta is Born” logo from the NDWC, pasta spoons from the U.S. Durum Growers Association and pasta from Dakota Growers Pasta Company, American Italian Pasta Company and Philadelphia Macaroni. Make sure you check or local newspaper or listen to your favorite radio station for a chance to win!
For additional pasta information and recipes, visit the following websites:
American Italian Pasta Company
Dakota Growers Pasta Company, a subsidiary of Viterra
To view this year's Pasta Month trivia and crossword puzzle, click here.
Source: North Dakota Wheat Commission
Posted by Northern Ag Network
