|
 |
Writing books, running a
salon in Minneapolis, growing his own food and raising chickens in
Prairie Farm just wasn't enough. Jay is also involved with his partner
in developing a Wisconsin-based pumpkin seed oil business. Many people
don't know that pumpkin seeds produce an oil that is rich, nutty,
delicious and healthful. It has long been popular in Europe and
especially in Austria where they've been producing the oil for
centuries. The pumpkin has an interesting story. Domesticated by the
Native Americans, Christopher Columbus was impressed enough that he took
pumpkins back with him after his first visit to the new world. Our
native pumpkin was a hit and by the 1700s, Austria started producing the
oil.
In the late 1800s a sport, or mutant variety, developed in Austria
that lacked the hard shell around the seed. These "naked-seeded"
pumpkins are now grown specifically for their delicious oil.
It's time that pumpkin oil comes back to America! One of the goals is
to help identify and bring to market products and crops that will help
add to the income of the many small, organic, family-owned farms in this
part of Wisconsin. Eventually a farmer-owned cooperative will be
established.
This project has been under development for the last 3 years as
pumpkin varieties have been tested that do well in this area. At long
last, Hay River Pumpkin Seed Oil is expected to debut in early December.
Click on over to
www.hayriver.net where you can register for email updates and
soon you'll be able to learn more and
purchase a bottle for yourself. |
