Sorghum’s Nutritional Value Creates Market Opportunities
Many of us think of sorghum as a livestock feed or a biofuel feedstock. But, did you know sorghum is also a nutritious and healthy whole grain?
The Sorghum Checkoff is working to educate consumers, bakers and food aid organizations about the nutritional benefits of sorghum. By encouraging the use of sorghum as a food, the Sorghum Checkoff is helping to create new markets for sorghum producers.
With the help of several industry researchers, the Sorghum Checkoff has produced an informative guide regarding sorghum’s nutritional characteristics called Sorghum: An Ancient, Healthy and Nutritious Old World Cereal.
Sorghum is not the new kid on the block when it comes to food grains. For centuries, sorghum has been extensively used worldwide in food production systems. Sorghum flour is actually a common food staple in Africa, India, Central America and Japan where it is used to make breads, tortillas, porridges, couscous, snacks and various alcoholic beverages.
Today, many Americans are only aware of sorghum as a gluten-free option for those suffering from Celiac disease, which is intolerance to gluten found in wheat, barley and rye products.
White food-grade sorghum flour has long been the only sorghum flour marketed in the U.S., mainly because of misperceptions that all flours had to be white in order to be nutritious. However, there are many different varieties and colors of sorghum containing a variety of nutritionally beneficial characteristics.
Because sorghum is used so abundantly for food around the world, it also makes a great food aid option. In fact, approximately 10 percent of the U.S. sorghum crop is used annually for food aid purposes. However, many countries and charities purchasing food aid are still mistaken when it comes to the nutritional benefits within the different sorghum varieties, creating a need for updated nutritional information and education about the grain.
The informative guide developed by the checkoff and industry researchers aims to clarify existing misperceptions about sorghum as a healthy option, both domestically and internationally.
Download your copy today: Sorghum: An Ancient, Healthy and Nutritious Old World Cereal