Breakfast of Champions: The Invention of Wheaties

By 1921, Minneapolis’ reign as the Flour Milling Capital of the World was coming to an end. So one enterprising flour company threw in its lot with a tasty wheat flake and the booming breakfast cereal industry.

—–

Producer: Britt AamodtEditorial support: Emily KrumbergerMixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

—–

For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media.

instagram.com/ampersradio/

Facebook.com/MN90Ampers

Never miss a beat. Sign up for our email list to receive news, updates and content releases from AMPERS. ampers.org/about-ampers/staytuned/

This show is made possible by community support. Due to cuts in federal funding, the community radio you love is at risk. Your support is needed now more than ever. Donate now to power the community programs you love: ampers.org/fund

Transcript

Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.

Minneapolis's reign as the flour milling capital of the world was coming to an end, all because of poor wheat harvests and a little invention called electricity. The electrification of the United States meant that you no longer had to build a flour mill next to a waterfall, like in Minneapolis, to generate power from water. You could build anywhere. In 1921, Minneapolis's Washburn-Crosby Flour Milling Company was casting about for its financial salvation, and it came in the form of a wheat flake. A dietitian had happened upon the small nibble accidentally while concocting healthy yum yums in the kitchen. He offered the sample to the mill. Don't you think it would make a great breakfast food? The only problem was the delicate flakes crumbled when handled. Washburn gave the problem to their head miller. For two years, he tried different varieties of wheat, proportions of sugar, salt, and malt syrup, until he devised a toasty flake that kept its shape. In 1924, the flour company launched its first breakfast cereal. They called it Wheaties.

MN90 is produced by AMPERS, Minnesota's community radio stations, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at MN90.org.