Blizzard Branch uses a mill made in the 1930's which owner John Catoe obtained from Wilkesboro, North Carolina. On the left, Jerry scoops cornmeal, while Randy readies the next batch of kernels for grinding.
Dried kernels are poured into the hopper, then funneled into the grinder. Two granite grinding stones are located in the box shown here under the hopper.
Ground corn is transferred to a machine with different sized filters which separate cornmeal, coarsely ground grits, and finely ground grits from the chaff. The chaff is then discarded or used as feed for farm animals.
Blizzard Branch grits retain the healthy germ, and they are unbleached. The grits in John's right hand are not as coarse as those in his left. Some people prefer one consistency over the other, but Blizzard Branch combines the two consistencies.
Grits are placed in 50-pound sacks, then weighed on this particularly beautiful old scale. They are then ready to be sold to various retailers around the state, who will package them in their own bags for grocer's shelves.
Grits are also packaged and sold directly from Blizzard Branch. In the character of Blizzard Branch, the back of the packages read, "Made by people who want you to enjoy some good old fashioned farm products that may have fallen by the wayside."
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