{"id":4035,"date":"2025-01-24T08:29:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T13:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ottawa-name.com\/?p=4035"},"modified":"2025-01-24T08:29:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T13:29:12","slug":"from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/eternal-4035-from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking","title":{"rendered":"From the First Mills to the Development of Marquis Wheat in Ottawa: The Story of Traditional Breadmaking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Marquis wheat variety was specifically developed for cultivation in Canada, notable for its early ripening quality, which expanded the safe-growing regions for wheat. <a href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/uk\/\">Ottawa Name<\/a> explores the history of early mills and the development of this remarkable wheat variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a5fd75dc73ed\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a5fd75dc73ed\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/eternal-4035-from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking\/#The_History_of_Wheat_and_Early_Mills_in_Canada\" >The History of Wheat and Early Mills in Canada<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/eternal-4035-from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking\/#Tracing_the_Roots_of_Red_Fife\" >Tracing the Roots of Red Fife<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/eternal-4035-from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking\/#Dr_William_Saunders\" >Dr. William Saunders<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/eternal-4035-from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking\/#William_Saunders_and_the_Invention_of_Marquis_Wheat\" >William Saunders and the Invention of Marquis Wheat<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/eternal-4035-from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking\/#Canadas_Best_Wheat_Variety\" >Canada\u2019s Best Wheat Variety<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/eternal-4035-from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking\/#The_Enduring_Legacy_of_Marquis_Wheat\" >The Enduring Legacy of Marquis Wheat<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/eternal-4035-from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking\/#Fascinating_Figures\" >Fascinating Figures<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/eternal-4035-from-the-first-mills-to-the-development-of-marquis-wheat-in-ottawa-the-story-of-traditional-breadmaking\/#Marquis_Wheat_Bread\" >Marquis Wheat Bread<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_History_of_Wheat_and_Early_Mills_in_Canada\"><\/span>The History of Wheat and Early Mills in Canada<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wheat first appeared in Canada in 1605, with the grain milled using a water-powered mill installed at Port Royal, Nova Scotia. In 1717, Louis H\u00e9bert of Quebec became the first local planter to harvest wheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wheat farming gradually moved westward, thanks to European settlers. Historically, settlers brought wheat varieties from their homelands to Canada. However, these varieties\u2014such as Golden Drop, Clawson, and Red Chaff\u2014struggled in Canada&#8217;s cold climate, affecting the quality of bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The situation changed in 1842 with the introduction of Red Fife wheat to Canada. This variety thrived in the Canadian climate and significantly improved the taste of bread and baked goods. It spurred increased wheat farming and the establishment of rail systems to transport it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ottawa.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2025\/01\/ad_4nxc4qlhhedtcsqc9hy3s49ihrk31yp8crzeg27ag_ixqpg8dav6tslhlee5fw4qecf87m19m-qvste1zi_clddjcitcapdvjlmkd6-kn_kbprikeujqjzmtd3e1gl0bktfvrvhfxkeyhaqmsf93ikgbudkhsagv9oat.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tracing_the_Roots_of_Red_Fife\"><\/span>Tracing the Roots of Red Fife<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. George Fedak, a cereal cytogeneticist who emigrated from Ukraine to Canada in 1929, uncovered fascinating details about Red Fife&#8217;s origins. His Ukrainian compatriot, Stephen Symko, who worked at Ottawa&#8217;s Central Experimental Farm until 1976, further explored its history in his publication Out of One Seed (1999).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Symko recounted how a single Ukrainian seed ended up with David Fife, a farmer in Otonabee, Ontario, who planted it in 1842. The resulting spring wheat later played a pivotal role in the development of Marquis wheat. Historical accounts, including A.H. Reginald Buller\u2019s Essays on Wheat (1919), confirmed that Red Fife was identical to a wheat variety from Galicia, Western Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ottawa.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2025\/01\/ad_4nxdftilastyx9qa-l6dpgrebc3fwe-w335fhesnm66_fglyrdan0dme5xl86gz_wvb2q3azj_miab-z3tnlkqucu5zx-a-5deatnlrp-gy8ufbb5pfpbhivi9nej3r9rmtc4qgfogqkeyhaqmsf93ikgbudkhsagv9oat.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dr_William_Saunders\"><\/span>Dr. William Saunders<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. William Saunders, a pioneering agronomist and the father of Marquis wheat, relocated to Ottawa in his 50s. He spearheaded the creation of five experimental farms, including Ottawa&#8217;s Central Experimental Farm, which became a hub for agricultural innovation. Saunders and his team developed resilient fruit trees and advanced grains through cross-pollination and hybridization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1886, Saunders and John Carling, Canada\u2019s Minister of Agriculture, initiated the Experimental Farm Service in Ottawa to research and develop agricultural solutions for Canadian farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"William_Saunders_and_the_Invention_of_Marquis_Wheat\"><\/span>William Saunders and the Invention of Marquis Wheat<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>William Saunders\u2019 contributions to agriculture were monumental. Recognizing the drawbacks of Red Fife wheat, particularly its late maturation, Saunders sought to develop a variety better suited to Canada\u2019s climate. He crossed Hard Red Calcutta (an Indian variety) with Red Fife, selecting the most promising offspring for cultivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result was Marquis wheat, celebrated for its exceptional yield and superior baking quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Canadas_Best_Wheat_Variety\"><\/span>Canada\u2019s Best Wheat Variety<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1911, the Canadian Pacific Railway held a competition to identify the best wheat variety in Canada, offering a $1,000 gold prize. Marquis wheat outperformed its competitors, cementing its reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By 1918, 80\u201390% of Canada\u2019s wheat acreage was planted with Marquis, generating $500 million in annual revenue. The variety positioned Canada as the world\u2019s leading wheat exporter, bolstering the war efforts of the Allies during World War I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Enduring_Legacy_of_Marquis_Wheat\"><\/span>The Enduring Legacy of Marquis Wheat<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Marquis wheat remains integral to Canadian agriculture, with nearly every modern wheat variety in the country tracing its lineage back to it. Breeders continue to uphold the high standards of quality and yield established by Marquis, ensuring Canadian wheat\u2019s global reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fascinating_Figures\"><\/span>Fascinating Figures<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 1919, the fixed price of Grade 1 Marquis wheat was $0.04 per pound. By 2020, it had risen to $0.09 per pound, marking a modest increase over a century.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 1982, 1.15 million acres of wheat were planted, with 98% used for bread and baked goods and 2% for livestock feed. By 2019, only 425,000 acres were planted, with 74% allocated to feed and 26% for food production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Marquis_Wheat_Bread\"><\/span>Marquis Wheat Bread<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Known as &#8220;True Love&#8221; bread, Marquis wheat bread revives the forgotten textures and flavors of traditional baking. Made simply with water, salt, and high-quality flour, it embodies a culinary heritage deeply connected to the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ottawa residents can purchase organic Marquis wheat flour to bake their own bread or enjoy freshly baked loaves at Vancouver\u2019s Granville Island Bakery. This remarkable grain continues to connect Canadians with their agricultural history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Marquis wheat variety was specifically developed for cultivation in Canada, notable for its early ripening quality, which expanded the safe-growing regions for wheat. Ottawa Name explores the history of early mills and the development of this remarkable wheat variety. The History of Wheat and Early Mills in Canada Wheat first appeared in Canada in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":467,"featured_media":2607,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[335],"tags":[3220,3225,3221,3226,3217,3216,3223,3228,3230,1859,3224,3222,3227,3231,3215,3229,3218,3214,3219],"moimportance":[29,30,33],"motype":[325],"moformat":[22],"class_list":{"0":"post-4035","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-innovations","8":"tag-bakers-of-vancouver","9":"tag-canadian-wheat-belt","10":"tag-competition-of-canadian-pacific-settlements","11":"tag-development-of-a-wheat-variety-for-cooking-in-canada","12":"tag-dr-william-saunders","13":"tag-facts-in-figures-are-given","14":"tag-first-courses-in-canada","15":"tag-history-of-the-conquest-of-the-wheat-variety-marquis","16":"tag-how-the-varieties-marquis-were-described-in-detail","17":"tag-marquis-wheat-2","18":"tag-organic-prosiyane-wheat-boroshevoy-marquis","19":"tag-ottawa-for-winemakers","20":"tag-the-best-wheat-variety-in-canada","21":"tag-the-largest-and-bakery-products-from-marquis-wheat","22":"tag-tsikavy-history-of-the-campaign-on-the-wheat-variety-marquis-canada","23":"tag-ukrainian-dishes-in-canada","24":"tag-variety-marquis-winery-in-ottawa","25":"tag-variety-red-fife-in-ukraine","26":"tag-wheat-variety-marquis","27":"moimportance-aktualna-bilshe-roku","28":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","29":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory","30":"motype-eternal","31":"moformat-longrid-korotka"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/467"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4035"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4035\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4042,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4035\/revisions\/4042"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4035"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=4035"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=4035"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=4035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}