Original scientific paper
From Grain and Cob to Bread and Pastry in Podravina until 1945
Mira Kolar Dimitrijević
orcid.org/0000-0002-6050-5700
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb – Full Professor (retired)
Abstract
Agriculture is the key economic earner in Podravina, more precisely- growing wheat, maize, flour milling and bakeries-and these are the stepping stones of progress from grain and cob-to bread and bakery.
Flour milling is one of the most represented, most visible and present production plants. Unlike saw-mills, flour mills were the tallest buildings in many towns and their smokestacks were imposing as landmark objects, as much as church towers. Murmur and low humming of water mill wheel, with clanking of steam engine piston, meant that the mill is running. On the other hand, its silence in spring or during holidays signifies lack of wheat and closing of mills temporarily.
History of Podravina (and entire Croatian) flour milling has always been very turbulent, as industrial milling was keen on pushing water mills out of business. Yet, industrial mills were fighting numerous battles - with technical problems, traffic isolation, and poor quality of flour- and failing, due to lack of capital, high taxes, frequent fires, sometimes even wars. Even the government meddled in with state intervention on wheat and flour market.
There has always been a long and hard road from farmers who harvested wheat and corn to bakers, pastry cooks or producers of honey, a path many walked but only a few managed to keep on track, or remain in business.
Keywords
Podravina; flour milling; water mills; agriculture; wheat; corn; bakers
Hrčak ID:
77854
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2009.
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