From Harvest to Packaging: The Comprehensive Oat Milling Process

Oats are a staple in many diets worldwide, known for their health benefits and versatility. The journey from harvest to the breakfast table involves a meticulous process ensuring high-quality oats reach consumers. This process begins with local growers, who supply the mill with select registered oats at harvest time. Once delivered, these oats are cleaned and dried to prepare them for storage until they are needed for milling.

The milling process comprises five distinct stages, each crucial for producing high-quality oat products. Initially, the oats are cleaned to remove impurities such as straws, stones, and weed seeds. This is achieved by passing the oats through a series of screens and air streams that eliminate dust and light grains unsuitable for milling. This cleaning stage ensures that only the finest oats proceed to the next phase.

Next, the oats are sorted by size into small, medium, and large grains. This sorting allows for the efficient processing of different types of oats. The oats then move to the oat sheller, a machine designed to crack the husk from the grain without damaging the kernel. The resulting mixture of kernels and hulls is further cleaned by blowing off remaining dust and hulls using a stream of air. This step is followed by polishing to remove any residual dust or hulls, ensuring a clean and smooth kernel.

In the third stage, the cleaned groats are cut to produce Pinhead oatmeal. This is achieved by feeding the groats into a cylinder with numerous holes, allowing the kernels to fall through and be cut into smaller pieces. Pinhead oatmeal is ideal for making traditional porridge and is a key product in the oat milling process.

The fourth stage involves steaming the pinheads at temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius. This step cooks the oats and prepares them for rolling into flakes. Once rolled, the oat flakes are dried, cooled, and stored in containers to preserve freshness until packaging.

Finally, the processed oats are weighed and packaged automatically. Flahavan's Progress Oatlets are available in various pack sizes, including 500g, 1kg, 1.5kg packs, and 25kg bags. Each packet is sealed after being weighed, folded, and pressed to ensure the oats remain fresh. The final packages are then packed into cartons for distribution to local stores, making them readily available for consumers.

This comprehensive process ensures that the oats are not only high-quality but also ready to provide the nutritional benefits that consumers expect.
From Harvest to Packaging: The Comprehensive Oat Milling Process