When grown in accordance with that research, these cereal grasses are only harvested during several days once each year at the point of maximum nutrition. At that stage, these young plants provide much more nutrient density than other greens. That's why we call them green superfoods.
Because of our success, other companies now also use our term "superfoods" to describe blends of products that may contain some cereal grass but mostly consist of common vegetables and fruits available at any store.
There is nothing wrong with these other kinds of foods, but they are not superfoods because they are not naturally concentrated in nutrition. They are added to blends because they are inexpensive. They are filler ingredients.
Because these so-called superfood blends contain lower nutritional ingredients, they often require three times as much per serving to provide the same nutrition as one serving of any of Pines products.
When costs are compared on a cost-per-serving basis rather than a cost-per-ounce basis, Pines 100% pure cereal grass products cost much less than any of these so-called "superfood" blends that contain many ingredients.
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To truly appreciate the benefits of Pines Organic, Non-GMO Barley Grass (and the extra care we take to ensure it’s harvested at peak nutrition) we’re taking you behind-the-scenes and into the fields at Pines International’s farm in Lawrence, Kansas.
Unlike WheatGrass, which Pines grows through the winter and harvests in spring, barley grass, depending on the variety, can be planted either in the fall or spring. Pines planted this crop last spring and harvested in the early autumn. In the video, you’ll notice we're cutting it while the grass is still relatively short. Why? We cut barley grass just before the plant reaches the jointing stage, the point at which the internodal tissue in the grass leaf begins to elongate, forming a stem. After this happens, chlorophyll, protein, and most of the vitamins found in cereal grasses begin to fall.
Our competitors let their wheatgrass, barley grass and other cereal grasses grow well beyond this point so that they can have a higher yield, yet it results in a nutritionally inferior product. Because of this, Pines provides twice the nutrition per gram than what others achieve. As the film footage shows, this window in the plant’s development is so brief, that sometimes we work late into the night to ensure we’re harvesting the barley grass at its peak nutrition.
Benefits of Barley Grass
Speaking of nutrition, Barley Grass, has a similar nutritional makeup as wheatgrass. It’s a whole food packed with essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, copper, folic acid, vitamins C, B6 and B12, and protein, which are all vital to maintaining hemoglobin levels and forming red blood cells. It also has more iron than spinach, and iron improves blood volume and prevents anemia and fatigue. It also contains antioxidants, calcium, chlorophyll, fiber and many more nutrients your body needs every day.
Green, Glorious Greens!
After a long day (even night) of harvesting barley grass, at last you can see it being transferred from the harvesting machine to truck for transport to our low-temperature dehydrator. Notice the vibrant green color? That’s the unmistakable color of chlorophyll found in green leafy vegetables, which provide your cells with the food they need. It's not only good for you, it's also a tasty ingredient, used in salad dressings, such as this Jalapeno Ranch recipe on delicious Shrimp Tacos, Zucchini Noodles with a Spicy Tahini Sauce, and smoothies and many other salads, entrées and beverages.
Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes footage from Pines!
]]>Not all Wheat Grass is made equal. Only the best wheat grass has been certified 100% organic, Non-GMO and gluten free likes Pines Products. Pines International helped write the organic standards in the state of Kansas in the 1980s which was used in developing the national organic standards.
To the right is a picture of a round tray of wheatgrass in a field of true wheatgrass. Clearly, there are major differences between them. You can see the difference in color of the plant and of the extracted juices. Medical research praised in books about wheatgrass by Ann Wigmore used whole food wheatgrass powder. The doctors did not use juice from tray wheatgrass. Their patients used the same kind of wheatgrass powder that Pines has sold for more than 40 years. We grow our true wheatgrass in accordance with the methods in the research. As a result, it contains four times more chlorophyll than tray-grown wheatgrass. Further, because we grow our wheatgrass as nature intends, it has a pleasant flavor. It does not have a moldy flavor. Many people find the taste of tray grown wheatgrass repulsive, that weird flavor associated with mold and growing it far-too-quickly under extremely unnatural conditions in trays.
Ann Wigmore and other authors encouraged people to grow wheatgrass in trays. She did not understand the way wheatgrass naturally grows. She and other authors helped many people. Their ignorance about wheatgrass is not saying that their other teachings about living foods were not correct. It is also not saying that unnaturally-grown tray wheatgrass doesn't produce many of the same results as naturally-grown true wheatgrass.
Living foods and chlorophyll-rich foods create miracles, even when not using natural methods. Except for mold reactions and a strong potential for pathogens due to growing conditions, tray wheatgrass has value. The chlorophyll content of tray wheatgrass is only 25% as much as true wheatgrass. Yet, tray wheatgrass still contains much more chlorophyll than other vegetables.
The reason mold is a problem is the same reason that the nutrition is not as high for tray wheatgrass. Lower quality results from seeds 300 times closer together than is natural. It results from temperatures that are much warmer than natural. Further, the plant grows seven times faster than is natural. Full sunlight is usually not available. And finally, if soil exists at all, it is not deep enough for a healthy plant. Soil needs to be at least one foot deep. The picture above is true wheatgrass at the once-a-year jointing stage. Tray wheatgrass is next to it to see the difference.
The roots continue to become more complex, continuing to store nutrition for the lush wheatgrass that will form in the spring. The stored nutrition in the roots gives real wheatgrass the extremely high nutritional value in the spring. Schnabel and other scientists studied the nutritional levels at various stages of growth. They discovered a short two or three day period in the early spring when the wheatgrass reaches its peak. At that once-a-year time, the nutrition reaches its peak content. It is also the peak for the grass juice factor, abscisic acid and antioxidants. Schnabel and other scientists found that the highest nutritional content only when growing wheatgrass naturally. That involves often-freezing temperatures and slow growth through the winter.
The leaves of the true wheatgrass not as long as tray wheatgrass. True wheatgrass grows in bright sunlight for 200 days, while tray grass grows for only 10 days. Slow growth in cold weather is very important. The leaves of true wheatgrass are always much darker green and healthy looking. Tray wheatgrass leaves are spindly. They become crowded spikes of unnatural looking wheatgrass with a tangle of roots.
Those poor roots cannot function as nature intended. Although not as tall as tray wheatgrass, the true wheatgrass root system goes a foot deep in rich glacial soil. The roots spread wide and free in every direction. Those deep roots built nutrients through the winter. That stored nutrition is why true wheatgrass contains four or more times more chlorophyll than unnatural tray wheatgrass.
For more information on the original research, please follow this link for a review of the literature, including a 153-item bibliography. Please use this link to learn more about Dr. Schnabel. The late Steve Meyerowitz, a disciple of Ann Wigmore, called Schnabel "the father of wheatgrass". Steve called himself "The Sproutman". He dedicated his popular book "Wheatgrass: Nature's Finest Medicine," to Dr. Schnabel.
Research by the Centers for Disease Control shows that few people eat enough vegetables. Veggies protect us from the diseases of modern society. Eating green vegetables is very important for good health. The darker green they are, the more antioxidant nutrition they contain.
Pines products at first glance may appear to cost more than other green foods in plastic tubs. Yet, if you do the math, the cost per serving can be half that of the plastic products. Further, their higher nutritional level makes them a much better value. Pines products are fresh and vibrant green because of oxygen-free packaging.
Proper growing techniques and appropriate packaging actually make Pines a much better value than plastic products. Since 9 out of 10 people do not eat enough veggies, the USDA MY PLATE graphic shows that veggies should be the main food in our diets. Eating plenty of all kinds of vegetables is very important. Yet, you should know that compared to other dark green vegetables, Pines superfood powders cost less. They are also free of herbicides and pesticides. They cost less than half as much per serving as dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach or kale. All Pines products are certified organic and Non-GMO Project Verified.
They are economical and a convenient way to increase the dark green vegetables in your diet. Whether you use wheatgrass powder, tablets, or capsules, add the powders to water, juices, smoothies, you can ensure extra green nutrition for your diet. You will find dozens of recipes on our website. With Pines, you will increase the antioxidant vegetable nutrition in your diet. Pines' products are available at leading natural food stores or directly through our shopping cart.
]]>Grown and harvested as we do, Green Duo Caps provide the the nutrition of dark-green veggies but in more concentration. As a result of the CDC studies, the USDA developed MyPlate. It shows that green vegetables should be our most important food.
Pines Wheat Grass is an easy way to increase your green nutrition. It costs much less per serving than equivalent veggies. A rounded teaspoon of powder in a smoothie contains the nutrition of a full serving of a veggies. Seven tablets also contain the nutrition of a serving of veggies such as kale or spinach. Because of our growing, harvesting and bottling standards, no other wheatgrass product is as nutrient dense as Pines. Pines Wheat Grass is a whole food. It is not a juice. Unlike juice Pines Wheat Grass is prebiotic and promotes probiotic bacteria to ensure colon health and full assimilation of nutrients.
For those trying to limit gluten in their diets, that seems like a contradiction. How can anything with the word “wheat” be gluten free? Wheat is generally thought of as food with the highest level of gluten.
Yet, an outside lab tests each batch of our wheatgrass ensure it meets the FDA’s gluten free standard. Pines would not use the gluten free logo on its labels for Pines Wheat Grass without laboratory tests proving it.
The FDA now requires that a gluten-free claim requires tests on file for each batch showing the gluten level was below 20 parts per million.
This picture demonstrates the loss of color that occurs when brands package green super foods in plastic. Only oxygen-free amber glass bottles with special metal caps like we use protect nutrients. Our packaging is also "earth friendly."
This young woman’s mother is Tina, who is Pines’ company manager, Tina. For more than 30 of our more than 40 years, Pines owes much of its success to Tina. Two years after Tina joined Pines, Jordan was born. As is the case with other children Pines’ people, Jordan was often found at Pines while growing up. She helped her mother and other team members.
To the right are some of our administrative people. They are standing in our greenhouse next to an indoor waterfall. The company provides the greenhouse and water feature as a peaceful atmosphere, even in the coldest part of winter.
Tina is one of 30% of Pines team members who has been with the company more than 20 years. The average time for the other team members is more than 12 years. Pines’ has teams for farming, harvest, bottling, customer service and administration and are people often serve on more than one team.
All of us at Pines work together at the same location in a family atmosphere of support and mutual respect. Our nearest field, where we grow our products, is less than 100 yards from where we bottle and ship them. No other green super food company does it all in one location like Pines. No other green super food company has been producing green super foods sold in the natural foods market for nearly four decades. Pines Wheat Grass was the original green super food in that market. Most similar products to Pines entered the market in the last 20 years, because of our success and using the ideas that Pines' established. Most brands are mixture of ingredients all from different sources mixed together and packaged in plastic by third-party jobbers. With Pines we grow nearly all our own ingredients right next to where we package and ship them. The sense of pride that all of us share in working together results in the highest possible quality. That is why the natural foods market knows that Pines is the premier and number one producer of alfalfa, wheatgrass and other cereal grasses since 1976.
In the early 1980s, Pines’ people worked with other organic farmers throughout the United States in establishing the national organic standards. Those standards resulted in the National Organic Program with the USDA Certifed Organic logo that you see on products sold today.
Most of our fields were registered in that program shortly after it was established in 1990. Besides that, Pines had farmed those fields organically for more than a decade before that. All Pines products are also Non-GMO Project Verified. Moreover, the Non-GMO Project verified our alfalfa leaf through genetic testing as GMO free. Our organic alfalfa is the only Non-GMO Project Verified whole food alfalfa for humans.
Pines is a leader in the movement against GMOs and other farming using poisons from the major chemical companies. We maintain a Facebook page to educate consumers about the dangers of eating foods with those poison residues.
Pines International continues to be extremely active in the organic farming and anti-GMO movements. We provide financial support to dozens of organizations and charities that support sustainable agriculture and feeding those in need. Since 1976, Pines provided several million servings of greens to feeding programs in Africa, Latin America and the United States.
More than 100 shareholders joined together in the late 1970s to establish Pines. The average investment was $200. No one invested expecting big returns. They all invested because they believed in our humanitarian and planetary goals.
For more than 40 years PINES' WCEF priority has been environmental sustainability & preventing hunger. Our record of contributions shows our commitment.
Our contributions of leafy greens to those in desperate need for more nutritious food have helped people throughout the world. Through the years, several NGOs have distributed our leafy greens. They always write to tell us about the health improvements and tothank us. One group that distributed recent contributions recognized Pines as the "Humanitarian Company of the Year". This recognition was for our supplying thousands of pounds of cereal grass pellets and Green Duo capsules. The people ground the pellets with corn for tortillas and took the capsules as easy ways to eat more green. The gifts went to orphanages and feeding programs in Guatemala.
The worldwide "modern" diet does not contain enough dark green, leafy veggies. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) studied diets and found only 10% of Americans eat enough of them. With too few fruits and veggies, people do not receive protection from diet-related disease conditions prevalent today. That's why the USDA in its MY PLATE says they should make up at least half of our daily diet.
We use the same location as Charles Schnabel during his research in the 1930s and 1940s. Many of our fields are ones where he grew and produced wheatgrass and other whole food cereal grass powders. Besides farming many of Schnabel's fields with the glacial soil he prized, we also still use one of his laboratories.
Schnabel supplied whole food grass powders to hospitals and doctors. They used them for the impressive body of research. That research served as the basis for books about wheatgrass. Those included ones by Ann Wigmore, Viktoras Kulvinskas and Steve Meyerowitz. In fact, Meyerowitz dedicated his book, “Wheatgrass: Nature’s Finest Medicine” to Dr. Schnabel. He called him “the father of wheatgrass". Another book you can read for free online is more scientifically-oriented. It has a 133-item bibliography and covers the research in greater detail.
Pines carefully follows Dr. Schnabel’s standards, including growing in glacial soils and harvesting the grasses at their peak. He also always packed them in amber glass bottles with special metal caps that allow him to remove the oxygen. We still use that safeguard to prevent the loss of nutrition that occurs with plastic containers and paper/plastic/foil packets.
We grow Pines Wheat Grass as Dr. Schnabel instructed. It grows through the often freezing temperatures of winter. We harvest at the special once-a-year jointing stage in the early spring that Schnabel found contained the nutritional peak. We never grow Pines Wheat Grass rapidly in unnatural and crowded conditions in trays. As a result, it contains four times more nutrition than tray-grown grass. It also doesn't contain the mold and often foul taste that comes from unnatural growing conditions.
Legend has it that Wheatgrass Willie and Alfalfa Allie appeared to Dr. Schnabel in his later years. They came to earth to respond to his concerns about the future of agriculture. They predicted the future pollution caused by a dependence on earth-destructive plastic and other fossil fuel products converted to poisons for farming. The Green Duo promised Dr. Schnabel that they would carry forward his vision. That resulted in farm families and individuals like Jordan and her mother who work each day with the Green Duo to fulfill Schnabel’s dream.
Scientists, doctors, and hospitals never used tray grown wheatgrass for the extensive body of research. They also never used the juice! Even so, their research inspired authors such as Ann Wigmore, Viktoras Kulvinskas, Steve Meyerowitz and others. They used research on true wheatgrass grown naturally to justify growing it unnaturally in trays.
Based on science rather than fads, the book published by our founder discusses the actual scientific research with a 133 item bibliography. You can read it free online.
Charles Schnabel first introduced wheatgrass and other cereal grasses as human food in 1937. He provided wholefood wheatgrass powder grown naturally for the body of research that serves as the foundation for the popularity of wheatgrass grown unnaturally.
Several of the popular wheatgrass authors even dedicated their books to Schnabel. Steve Meyerowitz in his dedication called Schnabel, “The Father of Wheatgrass.”
Schnabel did not grow his wheatgrass in trays. He also did not use wheatgrass juice. He grew wheatgrass naturally outdoors in special glacial soils during cold weather. Instead of providing juice for the doctors and hospitals, Schnabel provided finely milled dehydrated wholefood leaves of wheatgrass harvested at a special time that only occurs once each year. He packaged the powder in amber glass bottles with special metal caps that allowed him to remove the oxygen. This protected the wheatgrass from nutrient loss. It was this product (Cerophyl®) that doctors and hospitals used for the published research referenced in wheatgrass books.
Since 1976, Pines International has followed Dr. Schnabel’s traditions. In fact, we still use many of the same fields. Further, we built new buildings at the same site he used in 1937. We still use one of Schnabel's laboratories but with modern equipment.
When growers follow Schnabel's discoveries, they sow the seeds in the fall. They space the seeds about one inch apart. Schnabel never planted seeds next to each other as is the case for wheatgrass grown in trays.
The seeds for wheatgrass grow in trays are 300 times too close together. These crowded and unnatural warm growing conditions result in spindly leaves. They contain only 25% as much chlorophyll as true wheatgrass. True wheatgrass grows naturally through the winter as shown as the dark green grass with thick juicy leaves in this picture. To show the difference, we held some tray wheatgrass over the field of true wheat grass. The crowded conditions, rapid growth, and lack of sunlight cause tray wheatgrass to look spindly and pale. The true wheatgrass looks lush with thick, deep green fleshy leaves.
For wheatgrass planted in the fall in its appropriate climate, the soil remains warm from summer. Warm soil, cold nights and even cold days induces roots to grow deep. The leaves grow only about an inch in the first 30 days, but the roots go down a foot deep in rich glacial soil.
Root activity continues all winter even with most nights well below freezing. On warmer winter days, the bright sunlight causes the one-inch leaves to photosynthesize. This creates green energy stored in the roots in preparation for spring.
As temperatures slowly warm in late winter, the wheatgrass still does not grow much in height. Instead, with plenty of space between plants, it “stools out." Without the crowded conditions of tray wheatgrass, it forms more short leaves. The bright sunlight and still-cool temperatures, along with the stored nutrition in the roots, make a big difference. The natural conditions cause the wheatgrass to turn darker and darker green. Dr. Schnabel and other scientists measured the nutritional content of true wheatgrass each day. They determined a special time in the early spring called “the jointing stage” when true wheatgrass reaches its nutritional peak.
The jointing stage lasts only several days. That is the time when Dr. Schnabel harvested his true wheatgrass. He dried it at low temperatures and stored it in freezers until packaged in amber glass bottles with special metal caps. Those specially designed glass bottles and caps allowed Schnabel to remove the oxygen. Without oxygen, he protected his true wheatgrass powder loss of nutrition caused by oxidation. Pines International still packages with the same kind of oxygen-free bottles and follows all of Schnabel's other standards. We also follow his drying methods with modern state-of-the-art, computer-controlled dryer that uses even lower temperatures than used by Schnabel.
The difference between the two kinds of wheatgrass is obvious. True wheatgrass harvested at the once-a-year jointing stage is not any taller than the tray wheatgrass after ten days, but the leaves are thick, fleshy, and much darker green. With plants an average of one inch apart, they have space to “stool out” and grow naturally. That makes them thick, dark green and fleshy.
Anyone who loves living things can't help but notice the sad roots on the tray wheatgrass. They so much want to go down a foot or more deep in rich soil like they should but are stopped by the bottom of the tray. They turn into a tangled mess, which with too-warm temperatures and moisture becomes a perfect environment for mold.
Even though you might not be able to see it, wheatgrass grown in trays always contains mold. That is part of why it has a strange flavor that some people find objectionable. Like any green plant, tray grown wheat grass produces sugar from photosynthesis, but without the complex root system, deep soil and often-freezing temperatures of winter and early spring in its appropriate climate, much of the sugar does not develop into more complex nutrients. As a result, it has a sweet taste and a high glycemic index . Allowing wheatgrass to grow naturally prevents mold and produces a pleasant, clean, natural flavor with higher nutritional levels than wheatgrass grown in trays.
Both kinds of wheatgrass provide nourishment, but in terms of providing the kind of vegetable nutrition and fiber lacking in most diets, seven Pines Wheat Grass tablets or a rounded teaspoon of Pines Wheat Grass powder provide nutrition equal to a large spinach salad. Pines Wheat Grass and our other green superfoods should be a staple in the diets of those who do not eat enough green vegetables to protect their health. Studies show that about 90% of the population does not eat enough dark green vegetables. Research consistently shows that those who eat plenty of these kinds of foods develop less of the degenerative diseases associated with today’s standard diet.
Pines products are certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and certified Kosher. We test each 1,000 kilogram batch to ensure it meets FDA's gluten free standards. We also test each batch for bacteria, heavy metals, yeast, mold, and pathogens such as listeria, salmonella and E-Coli.
Those who grow tray grown wheatgrass sold in health food stores, juice bars and other places seldom test for pathogens and contamination. Government inspections of facilities that grow trays of wheatgrass seldom occurs. By contrast, the US Food and Drug Administration, the State Health Department and the various certifying agencies frequently inspect our fields and facilities.
With Pines green superfoods, we assure you the safest and most nutritious wheatgrass and other green superfoods available. Best of all, they cost a small fraction as much as tray grown wheatgrass with more nutrition and essential fiber for colon health.
Delicious Living magazine announced Pines won the 2017 Supplement Award. They noted that Pines offers the highest quality, purity, efficacy & innovation of any superfood. Please use our store locator to find a location near you or feel free to order online.
]]>It may not be they detox, but we do know that they help prevent disease. According to research Centers for Disease Control those who eat lots of them receive protection. They are less likely to develop degenerative disease. Yet, they found that only 10% of people eat enough of them to prevent disease. That's why the USDA now recommends in their My Plate graphic that we eat more veggies than other foods. Some say dark green vegetables can help you get well. At least as far as the CDC is concerned, they certainly help you from getting sick in the first place.
In addition to the research on chlorophyll itself, scientists studied certain foods. Hospitals and doctors studied wholefood wheatgrass and other wholefood chlorophyll-rich cereal grasses and alfalfa powders. Some of their results may be related to detox qualities. Their research was later discussed in books about wheatgrass by Ann Wigmore, Viktoras Kulvinskas and other authors.
The book shown to the left contains a summary of the research on cereal grass and a 133-item bibliography. You can read it for free online.
In addition to this medical research, several studies used wholefood wheatgrass powders for removing odors. One involved adding dehydrated whole food cereal grass to diets of senior citizens. Homes for seniors claimed adding this chlorophyll-rich addition reduced "bowel odor.” Another study regarded female dogs. It showed they produced less of the odors that attracted male dogs when regularly fed cereal grass. Nowadays, many animal lovers routinely feed Pines Wheat Grass because that see the effects on the animal's health. Do any of these studies prove eating more greens results in detox? The jury continues to be out on that claim.
More than chlorophyll in the cereal grass reduced bowel odor and caused male dogs to not be notice. Recent information regarding "prebiotic foods" indicates prebiotic qualities of cereal grass may the reason. The combination of chlorophyll and fiber may be what caused the bowels to become less toxic.
Prebiotic foods are those that create a healthy environment for probiotics. Probiotics are the "friendly" bacteria essential for colon health. Recent understanding of the nature of prebiotic foods indicates that reason for reduced bowel odor. That's because wholefood wheatgrass powder and othe leafy veggies are excellent prebiotic foods. Clearly, juice is not enough. We also need the fiber. Whole foods are making a comeback and smoothies are replacing juices because smoothies are prebiotic and juices are not.
David Reuban published his popular book, The Save Your Life Diet, before the popularity of juices and juices machines. His message about eating more natural whole foods became lost until recently.
Although many fiber-rich foods are considered prebiotic, dark green, leafy vegetables are near the top of everyone's list. Some of our grandparents and great grandparents also recognized the importance of eating greens. They kept telling us to eat greens for "roughage." They knew by instinct these resulted proper bowel function. The combination of chlorophyll and fiber creates the media needed for probiotic bacteria. Most doctors and other health authorities now agree we need whole food veggies. Whole food veggies result in a healthy, functioning colon. It seems clear that plenty of chlorophyll and fiber prevent and removing toxins from the body through the colon,
The darker green the food, the more chlorophyll it contains. Other animals use wholefood dark green leafy vegetables with their gentle vegetable fiber a staple in their diets. In fact, all other primates and most other mammals thrive on dark green food. Even carnivorous mammals such as cats and dogs depend on a certain amount of grass in their diets. Contrary to popular belief, dogs and cats don't eat grass only when they are sick. They also eat grass to keep from getting sick!
Back to the question, Do such foods as wheatgrass and alfalfa from Pines detox? These foods provide much more chlorophyll than other leafy green vegetables. Thus, if whole food leafy green vegetables help remove toxins, Pines' green superfoods are even better. That's becaue they contain considerably more chlorophyll than other green vegetables. Our whole food versions also provide prebiotic fiber for colon health.
As mention the U.S government itself believes in the health-giving and health-protective benefits of prebiotic dark green leafy vegetables. That's why the USDA says we should make veggies the most abundant food in our diets. They say eating more vegetables prevents disease and lets us live longer. Thus, it seems likely that whole food green vegetables must have the ability to remove toxins. That could be the reason for increased health and longevity. Certainly, the ability of a body to prevent and remove toxins might be essential to disease prevention. Many doctors believe toxins weaken the immune system. That can lead to chronic disease conditions.
Unfortunately, some toxins enter our bodies through vegetables themselves. Some farmers use poisons to grow them.
That's why many people depend on Pines products. They don't want poison residue in their dark green vegetable intake. For more more than 40 years, Pines has provided organic leadership. We have set an example for organic farming.
The USDA certified Pines International as organic since the program began in 1990. Further, we grew our products organically long before the certification program.
All our green superfoods are also Non-GMO Project Verified, including our alfalfa. Currently our Non-GMO Project Verified whole food alfalfa for humans is the only one available. At Pines, we are committed to helping people remove toxins from their body. We do not want to add them to anyone's diet!
We need to understanding prebiotic foods and their possible detox effects. Not only do we need to avoid foods grown with toxins, we need to avoid too much juice. Pines has produced wheatgrass juice powder for more than 30 years. Yet, we have always put the emphasis on our whole food powders. That’s because in order to achieve the probiotic effect of dark green, leafy vegetables, they must be wholefoods, not juices. Juices are not prebiotic!
Certainly juices are quickly absorbed, but without fiber, they do not thoroughly absorbed. For that veggies must be prebiotic. Only prebiotic greens offer the detoxifying effect of dark green roughage with fiber for the colon. Most nutritional authorities now recommend limiting the amount of extracted juice or juice powders from the diet. That's because wholevfoods provide essential fiber and are thus prebiotic. The most natural fiber for mammals is vegetable fiber, such as that found in Pines' wholefood green superfood products.
Converting whole foods to juices causes them to lose their prebiotic ability when the fiber is stripped away. Further, juices also tend to have a much higher glycemic index than the wholefoods that are used for their extraction. That can cause blood glucose levels to rise. Wholefood fruits and vegetables actually help prevent diabetes because they require more time for digestion. Whole foods take more time to transit through the intestines and are better absorbed. On the other hand, juices can actually create blood sugar spikes because of their rapid absorption. This certainly makes sense from a natural point of view. Obviously, our bodies were designed to digest whole foods not juices. Our ancestors did not have access to juice machines!
To see the effect of fiber, add a teaspoon of water to a Pines Wheat Grass tablet on a plate. Then, watch what happens during the next 30 minutes. A tablet swells to 12 times its size. The same expansion is true with Pines wholefood green superfood powders. Fiber-rich, dark-green, leafy vegetables are exactly what is lacking in most “modern” diets. Such roughage foods along with the chlorophyll in them are necessary for proper colon function. That prevents toxic build up in the colon.
Add a Pines Wheat Grass Tablet to a little water. It instantly turns dark green. Keep adding a few drops of water and in about thirty minutes it swells to 12 times its original size. That shows how the fiber creates bulk in the diet for probiotic bacteria to grow.
We sometime hear the mistaken idea that people should only use wheatgrass juice. They claim that's true because only cows can digest cellulose fiber.
Yes, it is true that only ruminant animals like cows can digest cellulose. The reason for fiber in the human diet has nothing to do with it being digested. Even though cellulose fiber in food does not digest, it provides roughage for normal bowel function. Again, it is fiber that makes a food prebiotic.
Wholefoods with fiber provide the prebiotics needed by healthy probiotic bacteria. Fiber provides volume to the food for better digestion and absorption in the small intestine. Further, it also provides a consistency that keeps the colon functioning as it should. That way, probiotic bacteria can grow and the colon can remove toxins.
The idea that only cows should eat fiber-rich foods and that we should only use juice is incorrect. If humans could not digest food containing cellulose fiber, we would need to juice all vegetables and fruits. We would need to figure out how to remove all the cellulose fiber from other prebiotic foods. Those include nuts, grains and beans! Some people think the only path for detox is through juices, but the reverse may be true. If we ate diets of only juices, without plant fiber, our colons would shrink. Further, our bodies would become even more toxic.
Another recent foolish idea also has its basis in the belief that fiber makes food indigestible." This new absurd idea is to mill wholefood green powder so fine that it mixes like a juice. It is true that such finely milled green superfood powder still provides fiber. The problem is the fine particle size lowers nutritional content. That’s because the finer any green superfood powder is milled, more surface area is available for oxidation. Oxidation deteriorates and devitalizes food, estpeically greens..
Even worse, such finely milled products are often sold in plastic tubs or paper packets. The product has also lost nutritional value from inadequate packaging. Plastic containers are bad enough. Milling to a fine powder just makes matters worse. Pines powders are milled much finer than one could ever chew a vegetable. They mix very well with liquid. Milling them even finer would be a major disservice to our customers.
The picture on the right shows a Pines team member loading our vacuum chamber with bottles. We vacuum out the air in the bottles and replace it with an atmosphere that does not contain oxygen. Our amber glass bottles with the oxygen removed keeps the product fresh. It prevents oxidation between the time of packaging and when you open the bottle. Even after opening, our metal caps with tight-fitting seals keep the greens fresh and vibrant for months after opening. We grow our cereal grasses and alfalfa using the 1937 standards by Charles Schnabel. He is known as the father of wheatgrass. We treat our greens with love by not over-milling them and by using inappropriate packaging. That is why Pines superfoods are much greener that those finely milled and cheaply packaged.
Toxins leave the body by way of the skin, breath, bladder and bowel. A healthy colon is the key to removing the largest amount of toxins from the body. There is truth to the adage, "being green inside is being clean inside". We need to replace processed low fiber foods and juices with nutritious chlorophyll-rich whole foods. Eating plenty of whole food greens results in less toxins and better health. Over-processing of green super foods by juicing or over-milling into devitalizes them. Oxidation and removal of fiber results in a less effective product.
For more than 40 years, Pines green super foods provide the best value. They also cost less and are easy to use. They are a great way to increase the dark green leafy vegetable nutrition in your diet. Green leafy vegetables as whole foods prevent toxic build up in the colon. Certainly, it may be possible to detox by eating a diet rich in whole food, dark green leafy veggies like the greens from Pines.
We see most such products as gimmicks. Many people want to believe that a long list of ingredients is a good thing. In most cases, it is not.
With dozens of ingredients, there is no way a consumer receives much of any one of them. Further, we don’t want to dilute our products. Pines' people work hard to grow our crops from planting the seed to harvest. We harvest for peak nutrition. We don't want cheap fillers added. All our foods are gluten free, vegan, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Kosher.
We think it would be a bad idea to dilute our high quality products. Pines goes to great effort to grow our own crops. We don't want to dilute our hard work with dozens of outsourced ingredients. Most cheap fillers have much lower nutrition. With very little regulation, ingredients can come from questionable sources. Ingredients in the natural food market can change hands several times before mixing them into one of these blends .
Such blends can never have certifications like all Pines' products because many of the outsourced ingredients are not certified. Further, adding all these other things takes away from the green color. One expects green superfoods to be green. But just look at the difference between Pines and other "green" superfoods in the picture below. That's why we say "Keep it Green."
Despite flowery ads, companies to mix all this other stuff because the stuff costs considerably less. But the lower nutrition of this added stuff is why it takes 8 or more grams of one of these complex blends to equal the nutrition of a 3.5 gram serving of a green superfood from Pines.
Another problem with blends is you cannot inspect each ingredients. What was the color of the wheatgrass? Was it green? When a company mixes dozens of ingredients together, you cannot check each for quality. You cannot check each item in it for color, flavor and aroma.
Besides using cheap "extras," these brands also use a cheap package. For more than 80 years, quality brands always packaged in earth-friendly amber glass bottles with special metal caps. That allowed the company to remove the oxygen . Pines is the only company that still does that. Others use plastic. Fossil fuel produces plastic. Plastic contains toxins. Further plastic provides no protection from loss of color and nutrition caused by oxidation. Even if a brand is not a complex blend, if packaged in plastic, most nutrition has oxidized. This photo shows the difference in color. Please notice how Pines in oxygen-free glass bottles looks compared to plastic products. The plastic products claim to be the same as Pines:
Pines grows only 100% organic, vegan friendly crops. We seek to be truly committed to the planet. We use glass, NEVER plastic.Some people may be allergic to one or more ingredients in these complex blends. Further, many nutritional experts caution against mixing some foods and herbs.
The prospect of one of the outsourced ingredients needing a recall is also a concern. We would rather package what we grow on our own farms. That way we can ensure growing, handling and testing by people we know and trust.
We produce single ingredient greens and very simple blends of nutrient-dense foods that we grow ourselves with limited outsourced ingredients. Our slogan is: Keep it Simple. Keep it Clean. Keep it Green! Please use our locator to find a store near you or use our shopping cart.
Delicious Living announces Pines won the 2017 Delicious Living Supplement Award for the highest quality, purity, efficacy & innovation of any superfood.Recently retired, Hobie Call won of 37 of 46 Spartan Races along with three World Championships. Hobie said: “The health required to continually win races as brutal as these is great. I contribute that to Pines’ Wheat Grass Powder more than anything else I eat.”
After turning professional at the age of 19, Clark Campbell became one of the most consistent top-10 finishers. According to Clark, “My daily servings of Pines Wheat Grass help me recover from my workouts and keep me at my peak performance level.”
Now 92 years old and still racing, Bill Bell has completed more than 300 triathlons. He credits Pines’ ‘Mighty Greens for important nutrition to his diet. Top women’s athletes such as professional triathlete Janine Daily depended on Pines, as well as thousands of amateurs who seek an edge.
Several decades later, the Centers for Disease Control reinforced our 1976 message of "eat more green." Their studies showed that 9 out 10 Americans who don’t eat enough chlorophyll-rich wholefood vegetables. Pines Wheat Grass and our other original green superfoods make it easy to increase the greens in your diet. The USDA Food Plate says we should be eating more vegetables than any other kind of food.
Pines is the original green superfood company. After 41 years, we are still the only grower of wheatgrass to follow scientific standards. Charles Schnabel, the Father of Wheatgrass, outlined them in 1937.
Harvest 2017 from Pines International on Vimeo.
We follow Schnabel's growing and harvesting standards. We are also the only green super food company to follow his packaging standards. As a result, the vegetable nutrition provides more nutrition than other products.
We use earth-friendly amber glass bottles with special metal caps that allow us to remove the oxygen. The result is oxidation does not occur. That's because removing oxygen prevents the oxidation. Oxygen causes loss of vegetable nutrition and color that occurs with greens packaged in plastic containers. In addition, plastic is not earth friendly and is made with petrochemical fossil fuel.
Pines is also the only whole food wheatgrass and alfalfa grower to not use contaminated ground water for irrigation. Instead, we grow in the appropriate climates for those crops. Our farms receive plenty of natural rainfall. Thus, we never need irrigation. In addition, we use the only facilities in Kansas built exclusively for Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, gluten free, raw human food. We have have used our facilities to produce animal feed for the industrialized meat industry. Because we produce only non-gmo, certified organic human food, we are are uniquely vegan friendly!
Whether a professional Kona athlete or a person just seeking better health, you probably need more dark green leafy vegetables in your diet. Pines green superfoods provide more nutrition per serving than other vegetables but cost much less per serving. That makes Pines the best value and an easy way to add more veggies with less costs. Please visit our store locator or order online.
Unquestionably the best obstacle course athlete, Hobie again demonstrated a great example of perseverance and tenacity. Hobie is a legend and a man much loved by the entire OCR community. He is a great runner who serves as inspiration and motivation for those who practice the sport.
Pines was established in 1976 as a means to convert more farmland to certified organic, support sustainable development and to support environmental causes and feeding programs. We are 100% organic and the only Kansas wheatgrass and alfalfa producer never to be a part of the confined animal industrialized meat industry. In addition, we are also the only greens producer for the natural product marketplace from Kansas to grow our cereal grasses and alfalfa in appropriate areas of the State that do not require irrigation. As a result, we do not use the contaminated and nearly depleted ground water from the Ogallala Aquifer. Furthermore, for 40 years, we have opposed agribusiness that abuses, wastes and contaminates this once-pristine fresh water resource in support of the meat and ethanol industries.
All Pines products are Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, gluten-free and raw. We follow the standards for the medical research that inspired Ann Wigmore, Steve Meyerowitz and other authors.
Charles Schnabel established those standards in 1937. The late Steve Meyerowits called him "the father of wheatgrass" in the dedication of his popular book, "Wheatgrass: Nature's Finest Medicine." Schnabel led the scientific team that produced the research praised by him and Ann Wignore. Because of that research, she recommended the use of wheatgrass in the diet. Schnabel produced his famous whole food wheatgrass powder in the same location still used by Pines. We still operate one of his laboratories and use many of the same fields. Pines is the only green food producer whose bottling and shipping facility is located right next to some of the fields where our organic wheatgrass is grown. We do it all from planting the seed to bottling the finished product.
Pines also follows Schnabel's packaging standards. We use amber glass bottles with special metal caps that allow us to remove the oxygen from each bottle. Because of this safeguard, our products do not oxidize and lose potency. We do not cut costs by packaging our green superfoods in plastic tubs or packets. That kind of packaging allows sensitive green nutrients to deteriorate and turn from brilliant green to a brown, grey or yellow color.
Even if you are not a World Champion, with Pines, you receive the vegetable nutrition that is lacking in most diets.The popularity of smoothies indicates a new understanding that whole foods are better than juice. That's because, many consumers now know that whole food fruits and vegetables are prebiotic. Whole food vegetables and fruits still contain natural fiber. They support the growth of probiotic bacteria. Consequently, when fiber is removed to make juice, the juice is no longer prebiotic. It no longer supports probiotic bacteria. Good colon health results from probiotic bacteria which are the "friendly" bacteria that help with digestion. They need whole food with its natural fiber to thrive.
Without whole food fiber, extracted juice can interfere with other aspects of gut ecology. A study by Dr. Eric Martens, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan shows one effect. These scientists discovered that juice without fiber can create problems. With the fiber removed, they found that organisms in the intestine eat away at the protective mucosal layer of the gut wall.
Pines nutrient-dense vegetables still contain essential fiber. They are prebiotic. As a result, customers often report improved bowl function. That is not surprising. The primate digestive systems was designed for whole food, leafy green roughage, not juice. Humans are primates. In the wild, primates eat dark green leafy vegetation with natural fiber. As a result, the fiber and nutrients in leafy green provide the proper media and consistency for probiotic growth. That results in better digestion and healthy bowel movements. Our naturally-concentrated, whole food, dark-green leafy vegetable powders are exactly what is missing from most human diets.
The picture shows three green juice brands, Naked, Suja and Odwalla. Coke, Pepsi, and Goldman Sachs own those brands. Although their labels say "organic," other products from Coke and Pepsi are not. These massive monopolies produce mostly soda pop. They distribute their beverages everywhere on our planet. Their ingredients generally consist of GMO high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) mixed with carbonated water and artificial flavors.
The popularity of smoothies indicates a new understanding that whole foods are better than juice. Consumers now seek whole foods that are prebiotic.We dry our greens at low temperatures. That protects raw food qualities. Further, when moisture is removed from food, spoilage is prevented. Without moisture, bacteria cannot grow. On the other hand, liquid juices spoil very quickly. Consequently, these juice brands must use heat or pressure to kill bacteria to prevent spoilage. That results in a longer shelf life but also devitalizes the juice. Juice experts say we need to consume raw vegetable juice within 20 minutes of extraction for nutritional levels people expect. Killing bacteria with heat or pressure kills the bacteria that would spoil the juice, but it also kills other important enzymes and nutrients associated with raw food.
Pines has been a leader in the organic foods movement for more than 40 years. Unlike a GMO monopoly, we are not a multi-national beverage producer with an "organic sideline." Instead, our small family farmers only produce 100% certified organic foods. We have never used herbicides or pesticides and we depend entirely on natural rainfall rather than growing in inappropriate locations that require unsustainable irrigation with contaminated ground water.
Pines was established in 1976 by more than 100 small investors who saw the company as a means to convert more farmland to certified organic and to support sustainable development. Further, they wanted to see the company support environmental causes and feeding programs. The stockholders invested an average of $200 each. Rather than expecting a big return on their investment, they supported the project because they believed in the ideals. They chose the Pine tree as the logo because it is an internationally-recognized symbol of the peace found in nature.
We package all our products in amber glass bottles with special metal caps. That allows us to remove the oxygen. Without oxygen, green foods cannot lose nutrition through oxidation. Furthermore, even after opening, the consumer can completely seal the contents between uses because of the tight-fitting metal caps.
All greens are good, but Pines' green superfood powders provide what our bodies need at much lower cost. The nutrition in one bottle of Pines costs less than $30 but is equal nutritionally to $300 worth of processed green juices like those three bottles to the right of the Mighty Greens. A serving of Pines' green superfoods can cost as little as 25 cents while a bottle of the heat or pressure pasteurized juice has a suggested retail of $4 per serving.
Pines' products are available at leading natural food stores or direct with our shopping cart. The powders are also great in recipes.
Many consumers recognize the danger of eating foods with GMO ingredients made from soy and corn. They avoid those foods so they can avoid residues of poisons used to kill weeds and pests. Unfortunately, even if you consume Certified Organic foods, your diet may still contain toxins if you eat foods packaged in plastic.
Although plastics contain many chemicals, two are of particular concern. Phthalates make plastic containers pliable so you can squeeze them. BPA is another and is found in hard plastic products. Both chemicals may pose cancer risks. Both mimic natural hormones and fool the endocrine system. When ingested those even at very low levels, these chemicals can cause reproductive problems. Some companies claim their containers are BPA or phthalate-free, but plastic still contains other harmful chemicals.
Plastic containers are made from fossil fuel. Food or water packaged in them is in contact with those petrochemicals. The food and the petrochemicals can mix with each other. To see an example of the mixing, examine a plastic superfood container after you finish it. If the container was white, the inside has become tinted with the color of the superfood. If the food is mixing with the plastic, the plastic is mixing with the food!
Another problem with plastic containers and packets is nutrient loss through oxidation. To prevent it, superfoods require oxygen-free glass bottles for maximum nutritional density. Superfoods in plastic containers or packets easily oxidize and lose potency. Even if a product had good quality when packaged, it oxidizes and loses quality while sitting in a warehouse or on a store shelf.
Nutrient-dense green superfoods such as alfalfa and wheatgrass are particularly subject to oxidation. That's why for 40 years, Pines has used oxygen-free glass bottles.
The use of oxygen-free packaging goes back more than 80 years to Charles Schnabel, who is known as "the father of wheatgrass." He led a team of scientists that studied cereal grasses and alfalfa. His research is the foundation for the use of wheatgrass. The result of his research is why Ann Wigmore and other authors have praised Schnabel. Schnabel provided his dark green vegetable powders to doctors and hospitals for their published studies. He packaged those nutrient-dense leafy green powders and tablets in amber glass bottles with special metal caps. That allowed the removal of oxygen and sealing the oxygen-free bottles to prevent oxidation.
Pines follows Dr. Schnabel's standards, including his packaging methods. For 40 years, Pines has packaged in oxygen-free amber glass bottles with those special metal caps. Until about 20 years ago, nearly all quality superfood companies used that kind of packaging. Now, to save money, many have resorted to less nutritious greens in plastic containers and packets.
Consumers should be concerned about the facilities used to produce the greens in many superfood blends. Instead of clean, modern, 100% organic facilities like those used by Pines, most greens come from old alfalfa dehydrators built years ago for the meat industry.
We grow our greens without using irrigation. The only other Kansas producer grows in a dry region of our State. They have to use irrigation. That requires pumping irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer. Although once an abundant and clean water source, growing crops with herbicides for the meat and ethanol industry depleted and contaminated this once-pristine ground water supply.
PINES is the only producer of green superfoods that grows its own ingredients on fields near where we bottle and ship. As a result, we outsource nothing. We do it all from planting the seed to filling our oxygen-free glass bottles.
Most companies use contract manufacturers who mix and bottle to the specifications of the company that hired them. No producer except PINES and those who source their greens from PINES can say that all their ingredients in their green superfood came from 100% organic farms. No other whole food greens producers use 100% organic facilities like those used by PINES, and none use oxygen-free glass bottles. Further, other producers produce both organic and non-organic products. At PINES, we do not believe the USDA Organic Certification should allow such "dual farming" operations.
]]>Unnatural crowded conditions for animals and plants are bad enough, but for confined animals, the food they are fed can be downright unhealthy and disgusting. One of those unhealthy foods is surplus candy unsuitable for sale to humans. When the price for corn was $315 per ton, candy sold to feedlots was only $160 per ton. That's a substantial savings!
Sugar in candy has a high percentage of simple carbohydrates. The industrialized meat industry seeks high carbohydrate feeds. Candy is even higher in carbs than unprocessed corn. Corn syrups used for candy are very concentrated. Cheap carbs create increased profits. They make factory-farmed meat cost less to produce. Cheap carbs also increase profits for the assembly line milk industry.
Some factory farm feedlot managers mix 3% candy with other forms of cattle feed. Even at only 3 percent, the additional profits are significant. As disturbing as candy may seem, it is not the most disgusting feed for confined animals.
Governments ban some animal byproducts as feed for the industrialized meat industry, but not all. Factory farmers can feed other byproducts & blood from dead cattle back to feedlot cattle. In other words, feedlots turn unsuspecting animals into cannibals!
Here is a list of prohibited and accepted dead animal parts allowed in Washington State:
Feed for the meat and milk industry can also include chicken littler pellets. About 20 years ago, nearly all alfalfa dehydration equipment used to produce alfalfa for animal feed ended up in Arkansas. Some of that equipment now dehydrates chicken droppings from factory farming chicken and egg operations.
As a result, alfalfa is not used as feed as much as it once was. Feedlot operators now feed "chicken litter pellets" to cattle as a replacement for alfalfa. Producers of chicken litter pellets promote it as a better feed than alfalfa because it has a higher protein content. "The problem may be less the poop itself than the smorgasbord of other substances it frequently comes with, including feathers, heavy metals, bacteria, antibiotics, and bits of rodents."
Not all meat animals eat such bizarre cheap food. Yet, if you have eaten meat from confined animals, they probably did. If you want to ensure that you don't consume those kind of animals, buy meat with the Certified Organic logo or buy meat from local farmers you know.
Even without organic certification, grass fed beef is better for your health than feedlot beef. Whether corn used in feedlots comes from candy or the corn itself, it is not natural for cattle. Their natural food is grass and other leafy greens.
Prior to GMO agriculture, feedlot operators fed cattle diets consisting mostly of alfalfa pellets, a leafy green vegetable. Except for pesticides used to grow it, alfalfa was fairly free of poison residue. That's not the true with what is fed to confined animals today. Corn, candy or chicken litter pellets contain the highest concentrations of herbicides in history. Corn and the corn syrup used to make candy also contain the highest levels of pesticides in history.
Before GMOs, herbicides could not be sprayed on a plant like corn without killing it. Before GMOs, farmers could not spray herbicides directly on food. For thousands of years, farmers depended on mechanical means to remove weeds.
Likewise, farmers seldom used pesticides. When they did, they sprayed the poison on the outside of the plant. Most of it washed away during rains. Now, farmers no longer need to spray pesticides on corn. Thanks to ghoulish genetic manipulation, the plant itself is a pesticide! Every kernel of corn will kill any worm that tries to eat it!
Corn, candy and other corn products are loaded with pesticides and herbicides. That's true both animals and humans. Meat byproducts and blood fed back to confined animals contain additional toxins. Dehydrated chicken droppings are obviously also loaded with toxins. Governmental agencies assure us that such feeds are not harmful to human health, but common sense may indicate otherwise.
Before the popularity of chicken litter pellets, Kansas was home to more than a dozen alfalfa dehydrators owned by several family agribusiness corporations. They built them to produce alfalfa pellets for the meat industry. As chicken litter pellets started replacing alfalfa, most of these family businesses sold their equipment to the chicken litter companies who then moved the dehydrators to their own locations near the chicken "industry." The dehydrated alfalfa agribusiness in Kansas is nothing like it once was. Only one animal feed family remains that dehydrates alfalfa pellets for animal feed.
Both alfalfa and corn are GMO and contain resulting poison residue. Even so, alfalfa is a much better feed choice for confined animals. For one thing, alfalfa contains less poison residue. For another, leafy greens are what most farm animals were designed to eat. They should be eating leafy greens like grass and alfalfa, not corn, candy, meat, blood, sawdust, crab guts and chicken feces.
The one agribusiness family that still produces pesticide-based alfalfa in the semi-arid region of Kansas is the only meat industry alfalfa business that remains. For nearly 70 years, this family corporation has helped provide feed more than 200 billion cattle, poultry and hogs slaughtered as food for the American consumer.
In more recent years, the family established fields to grow organic wheat grass, barley grass and alfalfa for the natural food marketplace. Many products for the plethora of "organic" green superfoods in the natural food marketplace contain ingredients grown by this family.
About 15 years ago, the family set aside several irrigation circles for certified organic wheat grass and barley grass. For a few weeks each spring, the family agribusiness harvests organic whole food greens for humans from those fields. They usually harvest the grasses in the early spring. After that, the family goes back to alfalfa for animal feed. They harvest their pesticide-based alfalfa during the remaining spring, summer and fall.
Supplying organic greens for plastic tub superfoods has helped this agribusiness family survive despite the decreased use of alfalfa for the meat industry. They discovered a profitable "organic sideline" to their pesticide-based agribusiness by producing organic greens for the natural food marketplace.
Whether one is a vegan or omnivore, we all need to consume more dark green, leafy vegetables. The Centers for Disease Control discovered that only 10% of Americans eat enough of these foods. Green superfood powders, tablets and capsules are a convenient and economical way to add more of these important antioxidant foods to your diet. Any superfood powder is good as long as it has a vibrant green color. Pines offer the best superfood powder because Pines is the only 100% certified organic producer of whole food green superfood powders.
We do not believe in the duality of growing GMO crops with an "organic sideline." Pines is a 100% organic company. We are a vegan-friendly grower of organic wheat grass, barley grass and alfalfa. Our sincere organic family farmers use modern facilities designed for human food. We produce only certified organic, Kosher and Non-GMO Project Verified dark green leafy vegetables. Pines has never been involved in the meat industry.
During our 40 years, we have never grown GMO foods nor have we ever used herbicides and pesticides. In fact, for four decades, Pines has taken a strong stand and has spoken out against the chemical abuse and destruction of resources that goes on in the dry region of our state.
Most of the dry region of Great Plains is above the once-massive Ogallala Aquifer. About half of Kansas is in that region. That region is where agribusiness grows most of the feed for confined animals and for their feedlots. The lack of rainfall in a region not appropriate for corn and alfalfa requires immense amounts of water for irrigation. Besides the horrible conditions and terrible feed given to the confined animals, the feedlots themselves also require massive amounts of water.
In addition, millions of confined animals, waiting for slaughter, consume copious amounts of water to wash down their often-disgusting feed. Water is also needed to flush away their waste. Thus, the problems of animals prepared for slaughter in feedlots goes beyond unnatural and contaminated feeds. Producing meat in feedlots, hog barns and other confined animal situations has led to contamination and depletion of "fossil water" of a once-pristine aquifer.
Sincere organic farmers do not believe in wasting water resources. For example, besides being 100% organic, Pines grows its crops in areas that do not require irrigation. We depend entirely on natural rainfall. Pines is strongly opposed to growing GMO corn and alfalfa using what little is left of the Ogallala aquifer in the semi-arid regions in Kansas.
After 70 years of pumping water to grow alfalfa and corn, many wells are now dry. Both those crops require tremendous amounts of water. Growing them in dry regions is not sustainable. Further, factory farmers have contaminated the remaining irrigation wells with herbicides and pesticides. Unfortunately, they even irrigate their certified organic, wheat grass, barley grass and alfalfa grown in that region with water contaminated with toxic chemicals.
If you oppose the abuse of animals and are against environmentally-destructive, poison-based factory farming, we encourage you to buy your green superfoods from Pines. If you use other brands, contact the company to ask where they source their whole food leafy greens. Hopefully, they will tell you they obtain them from Pines.
Besides not using irrigation, we grow our quality organic wheatgrass and alfalfa in glacial soil and harvest it at the best time. After decades of research, Charles Schnabel and other scientists determined the best growing and harvesting standards. The intensity of the green color between our products and others demonstrates the difference. One reason for poor color is that dehydrators built for the meat industry do not produce the quality of greens as our modern, human-food-grade facilities.
Another reason results from waiting too long to harvest cereal grasses. To achieve a healthy color, cereal grasses need to be grown correctly and harvested at the correct time. Likewise, if alfalfa has a good color, it must directly harvested, immediately dried, and packaged in ways to prevent oxidation. Unfortunately, most alfalfa used in "green" superfoods is nothing more than ground up bales of alfalfa hay.
To hide poor color resulting from these practices, some green superfood companies blend wheatgrass, barley grass and alfalfa with algae or other dark colored ingredients. Algae, such as spirulina, is very slow to lose color. As a result, it makes a great cover-up for poor color of cereal grass and alfalfa. When companies hide poor quality cereal grass and alfalfa, it cheats consumers from the full effect of nutrient-rich leafy greens that are grown properly and harvested at the peak of nutition
As leaders in sustainable agriculture for more than 40 years, Pines grows and harvests the most nutrient-dense whole food leafy green vegetables. If your brand does not source its green powder ingredients from Pines, please ask them to contact us. Our ingredient website provides details. We grow and harvest our exceptional greens correctly. Our greater nutritional density makes them the best value. We are pleased to partner with other companies that share our concern and commitment to sustainability.
If you use meat, insist on humanely-treated animals. Make sure their diet consisted of organic greens, not GMO corn, junk food, dead animal parts, sawdust and/or chicken excrement. Animals deserve to be treated with respect and fed quality greens. You deserve quality green, too! Choose wheatgrass and other greens that are grown with respect. Choose greens grown naturally, harvested their nutritional peak and stored to prevent oxidation and loss of nutritional potency.
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The highest nutritional level for wheatgrass occurs at the jointing stage. It lasts only a few days, only once each year, in the early spring. Scientists learned that the highest nutritional level occurs at that time after a winter of slow growth in often freezing temperatures. The jointing stage occurs for only a few days in the early spring. The plant is usually about ten inches tall and is starting to grow rapidly. It is important to harvest before that rapid growth begins to capture the stored energy that will be used in the reproductive cycle. The scientists found the Northeastern corner of Kansas as an area in Kansas as the perfect location. Glacial soil and plenty of rainfall produce beautiful corps without using irrigation or chemcials. Only areas with adequate rainfall are appropriate for growing wheatgrass and alfalfa. The scientists found that in the appropriate climate of Northeastern Kansas contained a higher nutritional value than any other dark green, leafy vegetable.
For more than 80 years, people have used this kind of wheatgrass to increase the green vegetables in their diet. The Centers for Disease Control discovered only 10% of the population eat enough greens to protect themselves from degenerative diseases. As a result, the USDA uses the graphic below to show that we should be eating more vegetables than any other kind of food. You can find Pines Wheat Grass and our other green superfoods in natural food stores and online. They are convenient and economical ways to eat more green.
Some people mistakenly believe wheatgrass is supposed to grow unnaturally in trays. The wheatgrass used in the research that inspired Ann Wigmore was not juice. Instead, whole food wheatgrass powder from plants grown slowly over the winter produced the phenomenal results. Those plants outdoors in often-freezing temperatures through the winter. Schnabel harvested the wheatgrasss in the early spring.
At Pines, we follow the standards used in the research. We plant wheatgrass in the fall with seeds about one inch apart when the air is chilly and the soil is still warm. That induces the plants to grow as nature intends. After 30 days, the plants grows only one inch of leaf, but the roots are a foot deep in rich glacial soil. In the picture below, you can see the difference between real wheatgrass (bottom) at the annual once-a-year correct stage and unnaturally-grown wheatgrass (top) grown incorrectly indoors in a tray:
The wheatgrass used in the research in the 1930s by Charles Schnabel and other scientists was whole food annual wheatgrass powder. This is the same kind of wheatgrass produced by Pines today. The scientific research inspired Ann Wigmore and other authors such as Steve Meyerowirz, who called Schnabel, "the father of wheatgrass." The body of wheatgrass research referenced in their books came from plants harvested at this perfect time. The picture below shows the difference in color between unnaturally grown tray wheatgrass and annual wheatgrass grown over the winter and harvested at the special jointing stage in the spring. The insert is Charles Schnabel and the product he and other scientists used for the phenomenal research referenced by Ann Wigmore.
\ The history of wheatgrass goes back 80 years to the research by Charles Schnabel. Pines still uses his research and facility for Pines Wheat Grass.Charles Schnabel and the other scientists grew their wheatgrass in the same field in the top picture that we still farm. Pines also still uses one of their laboratories. We are the only producer of whole food wheatgrass powder in Kansas that is 100% organic. Unlike all other growers in Kansas, Pines is the only one to use facilities not built for the industrialized meat industry. We use clean, modern, computerized facilities to produce 100% certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan-friendly, Kosher, gluten-free human food.
Established in 1976, Pines is the original green superfood company. We are the only Kansas growers of whole food wheatgrass powder that was never part of the meat industry. We are also the only ones to never use irrigation water from the contaminated Ogallala Aquifer. In fact, we never irrigate at all because we grow wheatgrass in an appropriate areas. That's because, our fields receive plenty of natural rainfall.
All Pines' family farmers grow only 100% certified organic crops. They do not practice dual farming where a farmer produces both organic and non-organic crops. We only grow 100% organic. Most fields are within a two miles of where we package in oxygen-free glass bottles. Everything we grow and harvest is in accordance with Dr. Schnabel's standards.
Jeff has worked for Pines for 12 years. He coordinates the farming and wildlife management activity on more than 2,000 acres.We never package in plastic tubs or paper packets. Instead, we package all our products in amber glass bottles with special metal caps. That allows us to remove the oxygen. As a result, the nutrition loss through oxidation that occurs with plastic containers and packets does not occur.
Pines is also the only Kansas company established for the purpose of expanding organic agriculture. We support sustainable living, environmental responsibility and feeding the hungry. Our profits go toward those purposes.
For more than 40 years PINES' WCEF priority has been environmental sustainability & preventing hunger. Our record of contributions shows our commitment.
Today, few 100% organic companies remain in the natural food marketplace. Pines is one of them. All Pines' family farmers grow only 100% certified organic crops. That means we do not practice dual farming where a farmer grows both organic and non-organic crops. Moreover, we farm many organic fields within a two miles of where we package in oxygen-free glass bottles.
Jeff has worked for Pines for 12 years. He overseas the farming and wildlife management activity on more than 2,000 acres.
Danielle Lin also shares with Pines the desire for our species to move away from fossil fuel. That part of the reason why Pines, has never packaged in plastic tubs or paper packets. Instead, we package all products in amber glass bottles with special metal caps. Besides being earth friendly, this safeguard allows us to remove the oxygen. As a result, we avoid the nutrition loss through oxidation that occurs with plastic tubs and paper packets.
Pines is also the only Kansas grower of green superfoods that was established for the purpose of expanding organic agriculture. We support sustainable living, environmental responsibility and feeding the hungry. Our profits go toward those purposes.
For more than 40 years PINES' WCEF has supported environmental sustainability & preventing hunger. Our record of contributions shows our commitment.
Let’s get real. How many of us really eat enough green foods and green veggies each day? Notice I didn’t say “vegetables” but “green vegetables”. One of the best things you can do for your body, besides drinking enough water every day, is to increase the amount of dark greens that you eat at each meal. The majority of Americans add potatoes, carrots and peas to their plate because they are considered vegetables and, while they do have their own benefits, not adding dark green vegetables is doing a disservice to your family.
Research by the Centers for Disease Control showed that only one in ten people eat enough whole food green vegetables. Vegetables help protect us against degenerative disease. As a result, the USDA Food Plate says we should be eating more vegetables than any other food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says nearly 50 percent of vegetables and legumes available in the U.S. in 2013 were either tomatoes or potatoes.
For most kids in the U.S. potatoes in the form of chips or french fries are the only consistent vegetable being consumed. Many kids even go days without eating greens. According to this article on Parents.com, nine out of 10 children fall short of the daily recommended veggie goals.
Greens are the number one food that you can eat regularly to improve your health, according to Jill Nussinow MS, RD and culinary educator in Northern California. Dark leafy greens contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and plant-based nutrients.
We try to include green veggies in almost every meal. I realize that sometimes there are picky eaters that like to shove their greens to the side of their plate and would probably like to shove it right into the trash. Because of that, the texture and preparation of that green veggie is probably key to whether that picky eater will devour it or scour at it.
Consider preparing green veggies a different way if you, your kids or spouse aren't a fan of them. Try roasting them with olive oil, sea salt, turmeric, black pepper and garlic. Try blending frozen zucchini into a protein smoothie and grating the zucchini into a meat sauce, chili or pasta dish. You can read more about Picky Eaters HERE.
Here's some food for thought: Kids will gladly eat green candies like M&Ms, Sour Patch Kids, cotton candy, or a lollipop, but won’t touch actual real green foods.
Here are some green foods that you should add into your daily diet according to Delicious Living:
Pistachios - these nuts are hard to crack open, but they contain B6 and 18% of your daily requirement of B1. Add a handful to a ziplock pack and snack on them on-the-go or add it to salad. You could also top your brownies with them for crunch, flavor and color. Try them on these black bean brownies.
Spinach - adding a handful of spinach to smoothies, soups and dishes is the easiest way to increase greens in your diet. Spinach contains vitamins A, C, K and E as well as minerals that aid in muscle function. You could add some ribboned spinach to your meat sauce, chili, or even a smoothie.
Avocado - this creamy fruit is jam packed with potassium and folate. It’s great on toast, with eggs, or made into guacamole. It’s considered a “healthy fat” and can even lower harmful levels of cholesterol. Try making this chocolate pudding with avocados.
Zucchini - this low calorie green veggie might be my favorite. It’s high in fiber, rich in antioxidants and a wonderful source of potassium. It has more potassium than bananas! It is rich in B6, B1, B2, B3, zinc and magnesium. Try grating it with a cheese grater and adding it to your chili, making zoodles with meat sauce or my favorite: cutting it and freezing it to add to your smoothies. You won’t even taste it and you will get all the good benefits, all while it thickens your smoothie like a banana but without the sugar.
I hope some of these tips help you increase the amount of green foods that you eat each day. People have reached out to me on Instagram saying things like, “I snuck some zucchini into my son’s smoothie and not only does he have no idea, but he loves it and is drinking it now!”
The more green the merrier! Try to figure out how you can add more greens to your meals - your body will thank you!
Here I am with Ron, one of the co-founders of Pines! He's way awesome!
krystenskitchen ✅Food for thought: it seems that more people are afraid to try/eat GREEN foods because they are GREEN but they have no problem eating GREEN CANDY … I think people should be more concerned with what is making that candy GREEN than anything else. . 🌱Do you love GREENS? I sure do… especially zucchini, cucumbers, brussels sprouts, spinach & avocado! YUM! 🌱Do you eat greens every single day? What is your go to green veggie?
✅I just wrote a blog about GREEN FOODS & WHY YOU SHOULD EAT THEM and also why I 💚 @wheatgrass_people for everyone in the fam!
Delicious Living Magazine recognized Pines as the Supplement Award winner.
The tractor in the picture above is planting Pines Wheat Grass. In more than 40 years of farming, Pines has never used chemical poisons on any of our fields. We are also the only grower of greens to follow the standards of Charles Schnabel, "the father of wheatgrass." He was a scientist who spent his life finding the best way to grow, harvest and package wheatgrass and other cereal grasses. Dr. Schnabel never used poisons and neither has Pines.
Add water to a Pines Wheat Grass tablet. It instantly turns dark green. In about ten minutes, the tablet swells to 12 times its size. Imagine the amount of finely chopped green veggies in a seven-tablet serving! That's equivalent to the green food nutrition from a large spinach salad. Veggie fiber in whole food greens makes them prebiotic. That why our leafy greens are the perfect media for healthy probiotic bacteria that aid in digestion of food.
We suggest making contact with brands that use GMO ingredients. Let them know that you don't want poison in your food. Ask them to select wholesome organic ingredients. If you choose to boycott food with GMOs, be sure to also include palm oil on your boycott list. Palm oil producers heavily spray their crops with toxic poisons. Worse, palm oil comes from the destroyed rain forest habitat of orangutans and other endangered species. For the sake of your health and the sake of the planet, avoid all foods that contains poison residue. It is important to choose products with the USDA Organic Logo.
More people now know the danger of the poison residue in GMO foods, and the knowledge is widespread. Some mainline supermarket labels now state, "No HFCS" and/or "No Palm Oil." That is encouraging, but can be mislaeading. Now, that GMO purveyors can call HFCS, "fructose," some of the big food companies say "No HFCS" when all that has changed is the name used for the same GMO ingredient.
Certified Organic is the least toxic choice. With the use of GMO plants that are tolerant of poison, non-organic foods contain high levels of poison residue compared to only a few decades ago. On the other hand, products that have the USDA Organic logo are subject to thorough and regular inspections to ensure poisons are not used. If the USDA logo is on the label, third party inspectors verified that the producer followed NOP standards. The best way of avoiding GMO and poison residue is to purchase only Certified Organic foods.