Jim Amaral founded Borealis Breads in June of 1993. He hired his first employee in August of 1993 and has since grown the business to include 65 employees, three bakeries and 250 wholesale accounts.  Since its inception Borealis Breads has baked over 12 million rustic sourdough breads! Borealis Breads are now delivered fresh daily to stores in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

 

Since 1998 in an effort to create breads that are truly part of Maine’s foodscape, Jim has worked directly with Maine farmers and pioneered the use of locally grown, organic wheat and grains. Jim’s commitment to using local wheat has led to the establishment of a new milling business at the Williams Farm in Aroostook County.

 

Jim began his career as a baker while in high school and then put himself through Bates College, baking summers and during vacations, he graduated in 1982 with a degree in Philosophy and Religion. In 1990 after a five year stint as the winemaker at Sakonnet Vineyards in Litte Compton RI, Jim moved to Seattle where he developed his sourdough bread baking skills at Grand Central baking Co. and at the Greenwood Bakery.  

 

 

For five years Jim mentored the “Students Baking a Living” program at Fort Fairfield High School. Providing production and marketing guidance as the students started their own successful baking business. He also co-chaired the Maine Department of Agricuture’s marketing advisory committee and helped develop the “Get Real Get Maine” program.

 

In October of 2006, Jim spent a week in Turin Italy where he was invited to present at “Terra Madre” a worldwide gathering of 5000 farmers and artisan food producers and chefs, all advocates for the slow food movement and the preservation of local foods and sustainable food systems.