Spices are strongly flavored or aromatic parts of plants used in small quantities in cooking as a preservative, for flavoring &
coloring.
Spices are also used in perfumes & cosmetics, and have been used in medicine and religious ritual as well.
Spices
are distinguished from other plant products used for similar purposes, such as herbs
(which are green, leafy parts of plants),aromatic vegetables & dried fruits.
All spices are Wildcrafted for Purity and have a Freshness Guarantee.
(Picked and Processed within the last 3 - 6 months)
"Wildcrafted" plants are gathered from their natural, wild habitat, often from pristine areas.
Sea vegetables, wild rice, some
wild fruits and many herbs are wildcrafted.
When wildcrafting is done sustainably and with proper respect, generally only the
branches or flowers
from plants are taken and the living plant is left, or if it is necessary to take the whole plant,
seeds of the
plant are placed in the empty hole from which the plant was taken.
Care is taken to only remove a few plants, flowers, or branches,
so plenty remains to continue the supply.
Wildcrafted plants are regulated by The Organic Food Production Act of 1991.
Harvesters
must designate the area they are harvesting and provide a three-year history of the area
that shows no prohibited substances have
been applied there. A plan for harvesting must show
that the harvest will sustain the wild crop. No prohibited substances can
be added by processors.
