Antler Farms® wheat grass is grown organically outdoors, without the use of herbicides, pesticides, or artificial fertilizers.
We have a proven system for producing the highest quality organic wheat grass through careful management of weeds and pests through a variety of processes. These processes include crop rotation, management of soil nutrients, non-chemical weeding and approved pest control practices. Every batch of wheat grass is tested for ensure there is no E. coli, salmonella, yeast, mold and other harmful bacteria. Additional, we do random tests for heavy metals.
Our wheat grass is grown in the rich, fertile soil of New Zealand’s Canterbury Plains. Our soil is routinely tested each year before use to ensure it meets certified organic standards. On our sustainably managed farms, our wheat grass is grown over hundreds of days, in natural sunlight, through hot and cold periods. This slow growth process enables our wheat grass to develop deep roots that absorb minerals and nutrients from the soil. As a result, our wheat grass develops dark green leaves which contain an abundance of chlorophyll, enzymes, vitamins and minerals.
Our wheat grass is harvested precisely when its nutrients are at their peak concentration to provide the highest quality product with maximum nutritional content.
The harvesting schedule of wheat grass is critical. In nature, the purpose of the wheat plant is to produce grain once it has accumulated enough solar energy and nutrients to do so. Therefore, the nutrients in wheat grass reach their peak concentrations just before the jointing stage of the plant. This moment is determined through visual inspection, rather than by age or height of the plant. Our wheat grass is harvested at exactly this time period to ensure that our products are at their maximum nutritional content.
Skill is required to harvest at this optimal time, which can be as short as four days. After this time window, the nutrient levels begin to decline as the plant enters the jointing phase.
Once harvested, our wheat grass is dehydrated at a low temperature that preserves nutrients and enzymes. The moisture level is taken to below 4%, where bacteria cannot survive. As soon as the wheat grass comes out of the dehydrator, it is milled into a powder, and packed for shipping.