Going Nuts ~ GrandyOats

Food Finds by Lisë Stern / January, 2019

GrandyOats in Maine has been making oat-based granola for decades—since 1979, and current owners (self-described) Head Honcho Nat Peirce and Chief Granola Officer Aaron Anker have been in the business together since 2000.

Their products are all organic, sweetened with alternatives to cane sugar, including honey, maple syrup, and coconut syrup. Their line of roasted nuts can be found in the bulk section of area natural food stores; try the popular Maple Roasted Cashews. Organic Nori Sesame Cashews are gluten free and seasoned with Maine kelp, dulse, and nori. The new Turmeric Ginger Cashews have a little kick to them.

The growing interest in Paleo products inspired GrandyOats’ newest line, grain-free Organic Coconola. “Customers were asking for it,” says Anker. “Paleo, gluten free—everybody’s looking for health benefits, but, really, a product has to taste good.” Coconola, available at area markets, succeeds. Slivers of coconut form the base for three flavors, giving a granola-like mouthfeel. Original Coconola also includes cashews and pecans, plus pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame seeds, sweetened with honey and maple syrup, as is the Chocolate Chunk Coconola. Coconut and maple syrups sweeten the Super Hemp Blend, which gets added protein from hemp seeds.

A few years ago, GrandyOats moved to their current location and they are now completely solar powered. “We wanted to use as much renewable energy as possible,” Anker says.

GrandyOats
34 Schoolhouse Road
Hiram, Maine
207-935-7415