How do I harvest, dry and store chia seed to keep quality high?

Harvest chia when the flower heads dry and the seed starts to shatter, and the timing is tricky because if you wait too long the seed drops to the ground and is lost, while harvesting too early gives immature seed. Cut the heads, dry them well in shade or gentle conditions, then thresh gently and clean to remove chaff. Because the seed is so small and light, clean it carefully and dry it down to safe low moisture before storage, otherwise it cakes, smells or grows fungus, and food buyers reject damp or musty seed. Store in clean, dry, airtight bags or bins away from moisture and pests. Quality, cleanliness and dryness decide your price more than anything, so do not rush the drying. Buyers test for moisture and foreign matter.