So we ask the question, how would you prefer to ingest your daily plant-based protein – with or without toxins?
How to you want to prepare your omega-3 fatty acids – with or without residue from synthetic pesticides?

Irony has its place in the world, but not when it comes to our nutrition. That’s why for us if it’s not certified organic, it’s not really superfood.

The Truth about “Naturally” Grown Hemp and Chia

In a recent article from AgriNews, Eastern Ontario’s agricultural news voice, hemp was touted as an ancient plant with a new future in Ontario (Canada). The article contains some interesting facts about conventionally-grown hemp, and implicates a well-known “natural” hemp brand in the process. Synthetic nitrogen is used (as much as 200 lb. per acre) to make the hemp grow taller and greener. Also, more sinister is the fact that weed control is done pre-planting with Monsanto’s Roundup burn down ahead of time.

As for chia, conventional farmers will often say that they don’t need to use pesticides or herbicides for growing chia. Unfortunately, that is not the case with all of them.

Safer for You and Your Family—Look for Certified Organic

So how do we combat all of these hidden toxins in our environment? The first step is to be informed and aware of how the agriculture industry is affecting you and your family in your own home. Your discernment about the misused word “natural” is a great step forward. And then taking measures to make more conscious decisions when shopping. Certified organic foods are getting more and more prevalent, and for certain the internet is a great resource. Closer to home, buy locally from your farmer’s market. Even in the most remote places, or in the most urban neighborhoods, there are options for you. Remember, you play an important role in driving the industry—the more you demand certified organic, the more will be served up to you.

Safer for the Land–Why It Makes Sense To Grow Hemp And Chia Organically

Farming is hard work. The hours are long and there is no easy path to success. That applies to both conventional farming as well as organic. Where they differ is in their farming methods. Much has been written about the differences between conventional and organic farming practices, and organization like The Cornucopia Institute are in the forefront of educational activities that support sustainable and organic agriculture.

We stand firmly on the side of organic farming, and will only sell certified-organic foods. Organic agriculture sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.

One of the arguments against organic is that it is more labor intensive, and for many crops that is the case (thus explaining the higher cost for organic food). To get rid of pests and weeds, conventional farmers use pesticides and herbicides. Go to an organic farm and you will see workers hand pulling weeding in their fields.

However, there are some crops that are more easily grown organically than others. Hemp is one of the crops that fall into this category.

Hemp can be easily grown without herbicides, fungicides or pesticides. It is also a natural weed suppressor due to its fast growing canopy. In the research paper “Integrating Hemp in Organic Farming Systems” the authors conclude that hemp “is a viable cropping option for organic farming systems. It relies on minimal inputs in comparison to conventional crops especially once crop establishment has occurred. Its weed break potential and tolerance of pests and diseases were among the main contributions to organic systems. Additional benefits included soil conditioning abilities, contributions to local economies and increased diversity within food and fiber industries.”

On the other hand, chia falls into the category of being hard to grow organically. As a member of the mint family, Chia does not attract insects and is therefore not plagued by pests and diseases in the same way that other food crops usually are. Chia’s challenge is that the surrounding weeds grow faster than chia in the early growing phase. Thus, most non-organic chia farmers use harsh herbicides to kill the weeds.

For us it is a matter of choice between contaminating the soil or adopting a farming practice that benefits the environment. It is also about supporting a method of agriculture that does not have a negative impact on the workers.

Purity is at the heart of Nutiva, so our motto is to put people before profits.

Million Acres of Organic Hemp

Because industrial hemp is still illegal to grow in the U.S., we get our organic hemp from Canada. Over the past 15 years there has been considerable fluctuation in hemp production, but of late there has been a growing upward trend. The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance hopes to reach 100,000 acres by 2014 (currently the total number of acres are about 70,000).

At its current projected rate of growth Canada could produce one million acres of hemp by 2020. As we race to 1,000,000 hemp acres, how much will be organic?

We think the majority should be organic, and here is how you can help:

The growth of hemp is determined by market need. The more people want hemp, the more fields will be grown. If shoppers only want organic, then companies that sell hemp will have to offer organic, or they will fail. We will only offer certified organic hemp and we will support those farmers that are equally committed to organic. We hope other companies will join our 100% organic stand. Everyone benefits.