First Non-GMO Project Verified Alfalfa in Natural Food Market

Have you noticed that Pines offers the only whole food alfalfa verified by the Non-GMO Project?  As the first farmers to bring the original green superfood to the market in 1976, it is no surprise that Pines are the first farmers to grow the world’s first Non-GMO Project Verified alfalfa leaf.

Leaders in Organic Farming, We Always Opposed GMOs

As early as 1980, Pines lobbied for national organic standards.  Pines people always have led efforts to protect the planet. After farmers stated growing GMO crops, Pines worked to educate consumers about the dangers of increased poison residue in our food from GMO farming.  Pines maintains a Facebook Page about the GMO lies.

During the past decade, Pines organic farmers and others spoke out against bringing GMO alfalfa into the biosphere. Despite our protest, the government now allows GMO alfalfa leaf.  Poison companies like Monsanto changed the DNA of a kind of alfalfa to not die when sprayed with Round Up poison.  The poison will now kill weeds and not the alfalfa.

Common Use of Poison for Alfalfa

During the during more than 70 years, the meat industry used most dried alfalfa for animal feed.  During most of those years, growers used Malathion pesticide to kill bugs.  Now, thanks to GMO, they can also use Round Up poison to kill weeds.  They had already used Atrazine before planting and Malathion to kill bugs.  Now they can  drench the plants over and over with Round Up for the five to seven years or more that the alfalfa can now last in a field.  With the use of Round Up to eliminate invasion of grass and weeds, they may even extend the time the field can be in alfalfa even longer.

Dual Farmers Grow Organic as Well as Poison-Based Crops

In Kansas, a fanily that practices "dual farming" produces much of the "organic" wheatgrass, barley grass and alfalfa for the natural food market. They also have produced poison-based alfalfa for animal feed since the 1940s.  All though for 50 years they produced only animal feed, they now also grow organic crops.  Such farming practice where a farmer uses no poisons for some crops and heavy poisons for others is know as dual farming. After they finish the organic harvest for the natural food market in the spring, they go back to using poisons for the animal feed market the rest of the year.

For more than 70 years, the meat industry has used their alfalfa for confined animals waiting for slaughter.  They apply Atrazine prior to planting the animal feed alfalfa to kill every living thing in the field.  Then, they spray Malathion each year in the early each year to kill bugs. Now they can also use Round Up.  Studies clearly detail the contamination of the Ogallala Aquifer.  The alfalfa farmers are not alone. For several decades, others have used massive chemical poisons to grow GMO corn for ethanol.

no irrigation - right white

The Ogallala water took tens of thousands of years to accumulate. Farmers in these dry regions of Kansas grow crops that should receive rain, not irrigation.  Now, after nearly 100 years of waste and abuse, they have poisoned this once-pristine, plentiful, clean fresh water resource with farm chemicals. Further, irrigation of thousands of acres no longer occurs due to depletion. Quite frankly, it made no sense to waste all that water with pivot spray irrigation.  Most water simply evaporates with that practice.

Pines is 100% Organic and Never Uses Irrigation

Conrast that abuse and use of GMO alfalfa,  GMO corn and GMO soy beans in the dry areas of Kansas with the 100% organic practices of Pines.  First of all, we do not grow any GMO crops.  Further, in more than 40 years, we have never used any of the above-mentioned poisons on our land.  In addition, we grow in Northeastern Kansas.  That corner of our State is an area that is appropriate for crops like alfalfa because we receive plenty of rain.

We have not and do not use irrigation for any of our crops. Pines strongly opposes what farmers in the dry areas of our State did to the Ogallala Aquifer.  We also oppose dual farming where a farmer can grow both organic and non-organic foods.  Pines is 100% organic. Further, we built our dryer to use only for organic, non-GMO human food.  We do not use our dryer to supply animal feed for the meat industry.

Because the pollen for alfalfa can travel long distances, contamination with GMO pollen of alfalfa grown organically may occur.  Finding GMO free organic seed to pass the Non-GMO Project genetic testing was very difficult. After more than a year, we found alfalfa seed that produced plants that passed the Project's tests. We became the first farmers to receive their verification.

Crop Rotation is the Organic Method to Control Weeds

For non-GMO alfalfa, weeds usually are not an issue for several years. Over time, weeds and grass start invading fields.  That is not a problem for Pines.  We don't need to keep our fields in alfalfa for long periods. That's because as organic farmers we rotate crops.

On the other hand, for animal feed companies, the new GMO alfalfa has increased profits. Their alfalfa fields produce longer before having to start over.  Before, if they sprayed weed killer it also killed the alfalfa. Weeds and grasses invaded their alfalfa fields after several years.  Now, with GMO alfalfa immune to the Round Up poison, they can prevent weeds and grass. That allows them to keep the fields in production for many more years.  That means bigger profits for them but more poison in the aquifer.

Pines is the only vegan-friendly wheatgrass and alfalfa grower in Kansas. That's because we do not support factory farming or the meat industry.  As 100% organic farmers, Pines' does not use Atrazine, Round Up or Malathion. We use natural methods.  We genetically test our seeds and plants to ensure that no GMO genes in their DNA.

For Others, "Organic" is a "Sideline" for Factory Farming

As discussed, alfalfa producers who use these poisons for their animal feed also grow organic alfalfa and wheatgrass for the natural food industry. For a few weeks in the spring before they start their animal feed business, they grow and harvest "organic" products for the natural food market as a profitable "sideline."

Even though they technically farm organic "irrigation circles," the circles they use for animal feed are often right next to the organic fields. The "organic" crops become easily contaminated when Malathion and other poisons drift onto the organic circles from airplanes used to spray non-organic circles for bugs and weeds.

The reality is that "dual farming" leads to poison in our soils and water supply.  That is why Pines has lobbied for years to change organic standards. We believe producers of organic food should not be allowed to also produce non-organic foods.

Not a Part of Dual or Factory Farming

Pines family farmers are 100% organic. Organic farming is not a sideline for us. It's a way of life! The only products we produce are both certified organic and NonGMOProject Verified.

The First Diet Commandment is "Eat More Green"

Since we introduced Pines Wheat Grass in 1976, our message has been to "eat more greens."  That's because most people do not eat enough dark green vegetables.  Pines specializes in convenient and economical ways to help you and your family increase your dark green nutrition.

All our products are Non-GMO Project Verified. Our alfalfa is a nutrient-dense, leafy-green vegetable. We provide Pines Alfalfa in both tablets and powder.  Another product, Green Duo, is a 50/50 blend of alfalfa and wheat grass.  Green Duo is available in both capsules and powder.

A tasty product that kids love is Mighty Greens, a simple-but-effective blend of alfalfa and wheatgrass. It has only two other ingredients.  We add hemp protein and stevia for more plant-based protein and flavor. For a list of stores, please click the store locator on this website.

Pines Follows Standards Based on Scientific Research

Pines is the only wheatgrass and alfalfa producer to follow the scientific standards developed in the 1930s by team of scientists led by Charles F. Schnabel.  They found the best way to grow, harvest and package them and provided wheatgrass for the extensive body medical research by doctors and hospitals. Authors Ann Wigmore, Viktoras Kulvinskas and Steve Meyerowitz praised that research. Meyerowitz dedicated his wheatgrass book to Schnabel and called him "the father of wheatgrass."

The scientists' standards showed how to grow alfalfa and wheatgrass for peak nutrition. The standards also regard harvesting and packaging.  Pines has always followed those standards. We package our products in amber glass bottles with special metal caps just as they did. As a result, we can remove the oxygen. That prevents the loss of nutrition and color that occurs with green superfood brands packaged in plastic tubs or paper packets.

The First Green Superfood in the Natural Food Market

As the first company to introduce green superfoods, it makes sense that we are the first to have Non-GMO Project Verified Alfalfa. In fact, all our products are Non-GMO Verified, Certified Organic, Gluten Free, Kosher and Vegan. 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. Delicious Living announces Pines won the 2017 Delicious Living Supplement Award for the highest quality, purity, efficacy & innovation of any superfood.