BELGRADE, MT — Bay State Milling, a family-owned, privately held grain miller, announced the addition of Montana Gluten Free to its portfolio. The acquisition is part of Bay State Milling’s strategic realignment, which now includes a total of 13 milling processing facilities across the US and Canada.
Walker Humphries, senior VP and GM of oat milling for Bay State Milling, will oversee the Montana facility, which handles SowNaked Mindfully Farmed Oats, a variety of non-GMO, hull-less oats that contain 40% more protein than traditional oats.
“We are thrilled to welcome Montana Gluten Free to the Bay State Milling family,” Humphries said. “This investment reflects our ongoing commitment to offering trusted, natural ingredients while connecting more closely with communities in this region.”
Without the outer shell of the oat plant, the SowNaked Oats variety requires less energy to process, resulting in 50% lower carbon emissions compared to traditional oats.
Available as groats, flakes and flour, the oats are used by Bay State Milling customers to produce clean-label and environmentally friendly gluten-free products, including oatmeal, granola and snack bars.
“This acquisition unlocks the next phase of growth for one of our most unique product lines,” said Ed Fish, senior VP of varietal solutions at Bay State Milling. “We’re expanding our capacity for high-protein, gluten-free oats that adhere to the strictest standards — a key differentiator for our customers and their products. These oats also deliver exceptional taste and nutrition with a fraction of the environmental impact.”