Devastating Fire at Next Step Produce: Help Rebuild a Pillar of the Mid-Atlantic Grain Community
On the evening of October 1, a fire broke out in Next Step Produce’s grain house in Newburg, Maryland. Despite the efforts of firefighters from three counties, the building was a total loss. The blaze destroyed machinery used for grain cleaning, sorting, drying, milling, and packaging; hundreds of thousands of dollars in harvested grains and seeds; critical paperwork, tools, a boiler, and a tractor. Losses are estimated at over $1 million. Thankfully, no one was injured.
Leaders in Regenerative and Local Grain Farming
For more than two decades, Heinz Thomet and Gabrielle Lajoie, founders of Next Step Produce, have been pillars of the local food and farming community. Their farm has long championed soil health, biodiversity, and regenerative practices while producing nourishing food in harmony with nature.
The couple’s farm operation began with growing diversified vegetables before introducing beans and grains for human consumption in 2010. Next Step Produce quickly became a leader in the Mid-Atlantic grain movement. Today, their work centers on grains, dry beans, and seeds, supplying local restaurants, bakeries, and the Mid-Atlantic Grain Stand.
A Devastating Loss for the Entire Grain Network
The fire’s impact reaches far beyond the Thomet family. Next Step Produce has played an essential role in mentoring new grain farmers, sharing equipment and facilities, and growing the regional grain movement. Their grain processing and storage facilities have been vital infrastructure for small farms across the region. Heinz and Gabrielle’s efforts made the work of other local farmers possible, improving outcomes for growers across the region.
“Heinz and Gabrielle have been true innovators, leaders, and mentors in the Mid-Atlantic farm community,” said Casey Gustowarow of Fireside Farm in Loudoun County, Virginia. “Without the inspiration of Heinz, I don’t think the grain movement in this area would be where it is today…They have shared their knowledge and resources with many, and this is a huge loss not only for them but also for the wider local food movement.”
Aaron Grigsby of Deep Roots Milling in Roseland, Virginia, echoed the sentiment, recalling how Next Step opened their facility to farmers affected by a regional wheat fungus outbreak: “Without their incredible facility and generous support, five of our growers would have experienced a total loss, impacting their willingness to continue growing for small milling operations like us. Deep Roots Milling would have had zero Virginia bread wheat last year if not for Next Step.”
In a full-circle act of solidarity, Deep Roots has since provided wheat for Next Step to replant in the aftermath of the fire—seed originally developed by Next Step years before. “Thanks to Heinz growing out and distributing quality seed, he was able to source it back from us,” Aaron explained.
Ripple Effects Across the Region
The fire has deeply affected fellow farmers like Nazirahk Amen of Purple Mountain Grown in Takoma Park, Maryland, who provides product for the Mid-Atlantic Grain Stand & Grain Share. Purple Mountain lost much of its grain harvest stored at Next Step’s facility.
“This is a huge loss and setback for small-scale grain production in the Mid-Atlantic,” Nazirahk said. “All of Purple Mountain Grown’s grain and dry bean production has only been possible through this relationship. While we suffered the loss of some of this year’s grains, it is nothing compared to the loss suffered by Next Step Produce. This facility has been crucial to helping small farmers get their grain to the table in this region.”
How to Support Next Step Produce
The fire burned down Next Step Produce’s entire grain operation, and the Thomet family faces a long road to recovery. Insurance will cover only a fraction of their losses. Here’s how you can help rebuild one of the leading farms in our regional grain network:
1. Make a Financial Contribution
Donate directly by check or via the GoFundMe for Next Step Produce.
Mail checks to:
Next Step Produce
10615 Benton Road
Newburg, MD 20664
2. Bid in the New Tractor Fund Silent Auction
Bid on gift certificates for nourishing food, holistic health services, and local art to support the purchase of a new tractor. This is Next Step’s most urgent need, and they hope to have the tractor in the fields by December to prepare for the 2026 season. Bidding is open from November 1 to November 4.
3. Volunteer
Contact Next Step Produce directly if you can offer hands-on help with clean-up efforts.
4. Support Partner Farms
Purple Mountain Grown has also launched a GoFundMe to build on-farm processing infrastructure, ensuring resilience for the small-scale grain movement they have nurtured with Next Step for over a decade.
Community Rooted in Resilience
In the wake of the tragedy, the Thomet family shared their gratitude on Instagram: “We are beyond grateful for the incredible people surrounding us as we navigate our next steps after losing our entire grain storage and cleaning facility to a fire on October 1. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” The outpouring of support across the region reflects the deep interconnectedness of our local grain economy and the strength of our local food and farming communities.
