Inventor of the First Multivitamin Honored at PINES
PINES Upholds the Legacy of Charles Schnabel -- the "Father of WheatGrass"
Lawrence, KS – PINES International recently hosted the Schnabel family during their reunion tour to honor the life of their patriarch, Charles F. Schnabel. Dr. Schnabel is known worldwide as the scientist who discovered the nutritional density of wheatgrass and other cereal grasses. He is known as "The Father of Wheatgrass." Schnabel began growing cereal grasses commercially on Pines' International's farm in 1932. One of Schnabel's laboratories is still located at Pines production facility near their farm.
That location was also the original site that Schnabel used for producing the "World's first Multivitamin." The product was known as Cerophyl and was sold in pharmacies throughout the world. Its popularity grew out of the extensive medical research using Cerophyl that showed improvement in many human conditions. Pines has carried on Schnabel's tradition for 43 years; growing cereal grasses, and then harvesting, storing and packaging them using his standards.
“We’re honored to show the Schnabel family how we’re continuing his legacy, growing WheatGrass that’s packed with essential vitamins and minerals,” said Pines Co-Founder, Ron Seibold. "Dr. Schnabel discovered how wheatgrass and other cereal grasses must be harvested at the jointing to provide the exceptionally high nutrient density he discovered. He also knew that the density drops quickly in the days after jointing.
Profit Over Quality
According to Seibold, all other WheatGrass producers have abandoned Dr. Schnabel’s teachings in favor of increased profits. “Pines is the only company that dares to discuss this research data by Schnabel and other scientists in our literature and materials,” Seibold said. “That's because we harvest at the jointing stage when the plant is still a short grass. To harvest at the jointing stage results in a yield of less than 500 pounds per acre.”Meanwhile, Seibold said that other growers, who capitalize on the reputation for cereal grass that Dr. Schnabel achieved, harvest a week or more after the jointing stage. “That way they can yield 2,000 pounds or more per acre, but with much less nutrition."
