Estonian rye growers and bread producers are aiming to sow at least one hundred rye fields and bake one million loaves of rye bread to celebrate Estonia’s centenary.
The Estonian Rye Association is calling on farmers, mill owners and bakeries to celebrate Estonia’s centenary by organiing a worldwide campaign to promote and value traditional rye bread. The Estonian Rye Association, Central Union of Estonian Farmers, Tartu Mill and Leibur signed a cooperation agreement to invite at least one hundred rye growers throughout Estonia to sow a field of rye this year. According to the agreement, the first crops harvested next year will be used to produce rye flour and to bake at least one million loaves of jubilee bread.
Estonians have grown rye and eaten rye bread for hundreds of years. Rye is Estonian national crop and the national flower is the cornflower, which in Estonian is known as the “rye flower”. Home-made bread on the table has always been a sign of independence, dignity and survival. The worldwide campaign ‘100 rye fields and one million loaves of rye bread for Estonia’ is being launched to preserve rye culture and the rye growing, eating and cultivation traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation, and to hand down a love and respect for rye and rye bread to the new generation and generations to come.
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