Discovering NC Agriculture is a social media series focusing on N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. Originally started in 2025, this series has been renewed to run for another year! Tune in each month to see how an N.C. commodity is grown, harvested, packed for consumer use and more. Learn nutritional value, find fun recipes to try, hear from local chefs who use that product, and other unique commodity facts throughout the series. We look forward to helping you better understand some of our N.C. commodities and how they impact your everyday lives!
Did you know that wheat is a staple we eat every single day, often multiple times a day? In fact, wheat flour makes up a majority of the calories we consume. Lindley Mills in Graham has been working with North Carolina farmers for ten generations to produce organic flour products for bakeries, grocery stores, and consumers across the country. Their process honors the history and legacy of wheat in our state, while their products showcase as much local wheat as possible and feed thousands every day.
Lindley Mills was established in 1755 by Thomas Lindley, a Pennsylvania Quaker who moved to North Carolina. “This mill was a community effort on many levels and has always been a gathering place for the community,” said Caroline Lindley, Director of Sales and Marketing at Lindley Mills. Although the mill was sold a couple of times through the years, it always found a way back into the Lindley family. “It was sold out of the family in the 1800’s and changed hands several times, but was purchased by my Grandfather in 1975,” Caroline said. “It’s truly what we were meant to do as a family.” Lindley Mills stands today in its original location in Graham, neighboring the sight of the Battle of Lindley’s Mill, which took place during the Revolutionary War. “Not only does my family have a rich history with this mill, but the mill has rich history with North Carolina,” said Caroline. “Wheat and milling both have a strong legacy in our state of sustaining families for generations.” Today, the mill is owned and operated by Caroline’s father, Joe Lindley, who is the ninth generation of family owning the milling operation. “Ever since my dad milled his first batch of flour, he’s been in love with the business,” Caroline said. “My mom works here also as our Director of Operations, so it truly is a family business to the core. We all feel called to it and have a strong passion for it.”
Although nearly eighty percent of wheat grown in North Carolina is used to make animal feed, there are many local farmers who sell their wheat to operations like Lindley Mills for milling flour production. “North Carolina has always been well known for its soft wheat, which is ideal when making cakes, cookies, biscuits, or other pastry products,” Caroline said. “We work with several organic farmers across the state who are very dedicated in providing us with the best milling wheat each year.” Caroline and her family buy as much North Carolina wheat as they can, but they also source from other states for soft wheat, like Georgia and Virginia, as well as bread wheat from states like Texas and Kansas. “Bread wheat is a harder, higher protein wheat that doesn’t grow well in our climate,” Caroline said, “but it’s used to make bread, pizza, etc.” Many products from Lindley Mills are a mixture of soft and bread wheat, which is blended during the flour making process to a tight customer specification.
After wheat is harvested, samples are sent by partner farms to Lindley Mills for grading and approval. Once approved, wheat is received in bulk at the mill in Graham. “Harvested wheat can look different each year due to a variety of conditions, including weather and pest control,” Caroline said. “Our team inspects samples of each crop to ensure the quality is where it needs to be for our flour products.” Once the wheat is brought into the mill, it is cleaned to remove field debris, like chaff and stalks. The wheat is then ground and sifted for each flour variety, and re-sifted to meet food safety standards, before it is blended and packaged according to consumer demand. “One of the things that makes our milling operation unique is that we offer our flour products in a variety of sizes,” Caroline said. “In addition to the tankers and pallets that we offer to large customers like grocery stores and bakeries, we also offer 2lb, 5lb, 25lb and 50lb bags to small customers, including those who are seeking organic flour to use in their home kitchen.” Many milling operations can’t offer smaller size products due to demand and accessibility, so this makes Lindley Mills stand out in the market by consistently providing for both large and small consumers.
The Lindley family offers a variety of flour products, from whole grain and rye flour to sprouted flour and cornmeal. “Our Super Sprout™ Flour is our legacy brand because it was created by my father, Joe,” Caroline said. “It’s a sprouted whole grain wheat flour with a naturally smooth flavor. Not only is it better for you than white or regular whole wheat flour, but it’s more versatile and can be used to make anything from bread and pizza crust to cookies and cakes.” In addition to their Super Sprout Flour™, Lindley Mills also produces White Flour, Whole Grain Flour, Rye Flour, Spelt Flour, Stoneground Corn Meal, and Grits. Although a majority of their products are sold to large brand bakeries and grocery stores under private labels, the Lindley Mills brand flour can be found online through their website and at all the Weaver Street Co-Op Farmers Market locations in our state. If you pick some up to try in your home kitchen, be sure to check out the recipes on the Lindley Mills website for baking/cooking ideas, many of which were created by Caroline’s grandmother.
Wheat is a cornerstone in the American diet, which is why wheat farmers and milling companies like Lindley Mills are so important. “Wheat has an ancestral heritage in our state, as does milling,” Caroline said. “Throughout our state’s history it has played a major role in the supply chain because it can be found in our diets every day. It’s very fulfilling to know that the work of myself and my family provides a high-quality, organic product that people can enjoy with their friends and family throughout the year.” If you would like to get more involved with Lindley Mills or learn more about the company, follow along on their social media pages or give them a call. “We would love to talk with anyone who is interested in learning more about our products or joining our growing team,” Caroline said. We are so proud of all that the Lindley family has done for our state’s wheat industry, and look forward to seeing their legacy continue to grow in the years to come!
