What is Hemp?
Hemp is the distinct oilseed & fiber varieties of the plant species Cannabis sativa L. Similar to flax, hemp provides raw materials for both food & fiber. Hemp is one of America's heritage crops; both George Washington & Thomas Jefferson grew hemp and advocated its use. The Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper & during World War II, farmers grew hemp for the USDA's Hemp for Victory program.
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Hemp Seeds |
A nutrition powerhouse, hemp is also an environmentally sustainable solution for potentially thousands of products ranging from body care to plastics, paper, textiles, building materials and even ethanol. With a rapidly expanding market for hemp products, cultivating hemp is an untapped opportunity for American farmers.
Good For Our Bodies
Hemp seeds are a nearly perfect food source. High in digestible protein, healthy Omega essential fatty
acids (EFAs) and naturally occurring minerals, hemp seeds are also free of gluten and have no known allergens.
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Hemp Milk, Oil, Seeds & Powder |
Foods made from hemp seeds have become staples in co-ops and grocery stores across the country. The light, nutty flavor of hemp seeds make them a perfect raw ingredient for delicious breads, cereals, waffles, nut butters, protein powders, nutritional oils, non-dairy milk and even ice cream. At the Syracuse Real Food Co-op look for brand names such as Manitoba Harvest, Dr. Bronner's, Nutiva & Living Harvest. (See Alex's picks in section below for hemp product pricing.)
Good For The Earth
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Hemp Used For Construction Materials |
A low-impact agricultural product, hemp is a renewable resource that can be grown without pesticides or agricultural chemicals.
Hemp is a part of America's agricultural heritage. First grown in the 1600's at Jamestown, hemp is best suited to regions that also produce wheat and corn. Hemp can be grown organically and aids in weed suppression and soil building, making it a favored rotation crop.
What Hemp Isn't
It is important to note that hemp has no drug value. Hemp seed contains little to no measurable amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in drug varieties of Cannabis. Using hemp products will not cause a false positive drug test. Learn more about the issue at www.TestPledge.com.