Why Non-GMO and Organic Nuts Matter

Posted on : November 2nd, 2016

Non-GMO project verified logoIf you’re concerned about choosing non-GMO foods, Maisie Jane’s farming practices are a reflection of the brand’s belief in why you deserve to trust the food you buy to be as healthy as possible for you and your family. Because the farm is a 4th generation legacy, we place a great deal of importance on delivering food in the purest and most natural form just as it was done back in the day. As a consumer, you shouldn’t have to worry about what’s in it or have to think about chemicals, pesticides, or if what you’re eating was made in a lab. For our team here at Maisie Jane’s, it’s important to us that you see our brand and know, without a shadow of a doubt, you’re eating the cleanest nut butters on the block.

What makes food “clean?”

Food labels can be confusing. Walking down the aisle at the grocery store, you are bombarded with labels claiming all sorts of things. One of them is the term “all natural.” Unfortunately, the label “all natural” doesn’t have a legally binding meaning. The FDA has no rules on what constitutes “natural” on a food label. The FDA infers there are guidelines, however, guidelines leave room for interpretation.

At Maisie Jane’s, we assure you that “all natural” means no chemicals, no synthetics, and nothing from a lab. Those practices are founded on our ethics rather than the law. Not all companies share our ethics. That’s why it’s important to find brands you can trust.

Be mindful of the ingredients list as well. Did you know there are over 61 different names for sugar that companies are permitted to use on their ingredient list? Or that artificial flavors and colors are permitted as stand-alone ingredients with no specifics required? The food you purchase is only as clean as the brand you’re buying from.

We don’t have any hidden ingredients in our products. When you pick up a jar of Maisie Jane’s Almond Butter and the label has “dry roasted almonds” as the sole item on the ingredient list, it’s because that is the only ingredient in the entire jar. Nothing else. It took us generations to gain and maintain the trust of our customers and we mean to keep it. This is not something we take lightly, nor is it something we intend on taking advantage of. We pride ourselves on the fact that we’ve remained consistently “clean” for generations. It’s a feat requiring a lot of diligent work and a strict adherence to the values we hold as close as we do family. Because after all, our customers are family!

What is Organic?

The USDA defines organic as follows: Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.

What is GMO?

GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. GMO crops were first introduced in the early 1990’s as scientists became interested in manipulating the genetic makeup of plants to create modifications for various reasons— such as enabling crops to withstand the use of herbicides and pesticides, or to produce fruits and vegetables with certain nutritional or aesthetic attributes. Think of it like dog breeding: if you want something loyal, highly intelligent, protective, and sweet, your best bet is to breed a German Shepherd with a Labrador. These scientists recognized the difficulty in crop maintenance. They saw an opportunity to make plants easier to care for, ones that require less work while producing a greater yield, and all the while maintaining a decreased risk of susceptibility to disease brought on by less than ideal growing conditions. Instead of using natural methods of crossbreeding to achieve these results, however, they used biotechnology to alter DNA taken from crops in ways that do not occur naturally by multiplication or natural recombination.

Essentially, it’s food created in a lab. Yes, parts of the DNA belong to the plant, but some parts don’t. DNA is the very strand of molecules that make a living thing what it is. Your DNA makes you a specific type of human, an apple’s DNA makes it a specific type of fruit, etc. Maisie Jane’s pure nut butters are Non-GMO. If the only ingredients are nuts, then you’re eating only what nature provided.

Fortunately, Almonds are inherently a Non-GMO food crop

If you’re concerned about choosing non-GMO foods, you have come to the right place. Maisie Jane’s almonds are cultivated using traditional agricultural techniques and grown without the use of genetic engineering or genetic manipulation.

Beyond our own growing, the secondary ingredients that Maisie Jane’s sources and buys from other growers do not contain gene-spliced bio-engineered organisms and are free of genetically modified DNA. We require documentation that meets these standards from every vendor we partner with.

So in a world where you hear a lot about the importance of eating non-GMO foods, we just want you to know that at Maisie Jane’s, we care a lot about healthy eating, healthy farming, and making sure that everything we put in front of you meets or exceeds your standards for food choices.

Why would Maisie Jane’s be so interested in Non-GMO and Organic products?

We ensure that what you purchase is pure. Whether or not it has the Organic label, the food you buy here is not bad for you, it won’t hurt you, and you aren’t being tricked. Our products are exactly as the labels state. There are no hidden ingredients. No surprises. Almond butter is just that: almonds pureed into a butter consistency. Cashew butter is just that: cashews pureed into a butter consistency. We grow our nuts in the ground. Their DNA doesn’t come from a lab; they are not products of mutation. There is no irradiation. No synthetic fertilizers. They are exactly as nature intended them to be.

Additionally, there are no remaining toxins because we don’t use chemicals (regardless of whether or not the governing authorities claim it’s safe). It’s very important to us our consumers see for themselves our dedication to their health is just as strong as our dedication to keeping nature “natural. When you shop Maisie Jane’s, you aren’t just buying a product. You’re buying a personal stance against rolling the dice with the very building blocks that make us human.

From farming practices to the ingredients in our products, Maisie Jane’s is dedicated to offering you the healthiest options, both for our planet and for your bodies. It pleases us that our ingredients listings are short and simple; there aren’t any words you will struggle pronouncing or aren’t familiar with. It’s all simple goodness, from the farm to your mouth. We also stand by our labels and the promise they represent. When you purchase products with Maisie Jane’s label, you are buying products you can trust.