ABOUT US
Thoreau Foods was started by Susan and Peter Allison in 2003 with the goal to make the most delicious and nutritious food possible that Every Body could enjoy. Having grown up in the grocery business (Gallahue's Supermarkets), Susan saw the evolution of food go from fresh whole ingredients to those that were more often than not loaded with refined sugars, trans fat and preservatives. Susan's enthusiasm for and knowledge of natural foods and exercise used to improve one's health and stamina left her asking for more from the food industry.
On a back country excursion climbing Sierra Nevada Peak 13,337 a few years back, we had plenty of hours to discuss what would be our perfect breakfast. As athletes who like to be outdoors for hours at a time, we knew we needed to develop something that would taste great and provide us with sustained energy. That's when our creativity for blending exotic ingredients and flavors combined with our knowledge of nutrition to create Thoreau Foods and our first product, delicious nutrition packed Muesli. Way more than granola, our USDA Certified Muesli provides a delicious and flavorful complete breakfast with over 2000 mgs of omega 3's, 12 grams of fiber, 9 grams of protein, plentiful antioxidants and a low glycemic index.
... And let's give credit where credit is due. Mom always said, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day". Well, we listened.
In the last few years, we have been personally exploring, preparing and integrating more 100% "raw and living foods" into our diet. By "raw", we mean foods that are not heated above a certain temperature, approximately 110 F, as it is theorized that the foods enzymes remain intact at these lower temperatures. And enzymes are responsible for all biological activity from blinking your eyes to digesting food. We see the health benefits and have enhanced our product line offering 100% raw products in addition to our muesli.
All our products are 80 - 100% certified organic raw and living foods. Only the grains are steam heated in the muesli.
Thoreau Foods has transitioned to offering services as well as products as we found ourselves doing educational talks and answering diet and exercise questions during the farmers markets where we were selling our products. From that came the idea to use our expertise, enthusiasm and desire to share our love of unprocessed, living organic foods with others through classes, retreats and workshops. We are now offering one on one and group classes in everything from Preserving your Summer Harvest to Raw in Training - Recipe Development.
Susan has been a lifelong advocate of the benefits of nutrition and exercise in the importance of maintaining health and wellness and is a proponent of taking charge of your own health. A certified raw and living foods chef, personal trainer, and yoga instructor, she has extensive education in the field possessing a BS in Exercise Physiology, studies in Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr and NCNM and an MBA with a concentration in quality improvement in healthcare. Hands on experience includes an apprenticeship at Living Light Culinary Institute, Fort Braag, CA, class instructor for Alissa Cohen Live Food levels 1 and 2 trainings, Adult Ed classes in several towns west of Boston, and one on one coaching services. Peter's flair for food and his experiences as head chef, baker, and food dehydrator on weeklong backpack and wilderness canoe trips give him a unique perspective and skill set in recipe development and food preservation.
Why Organic? Why Not!
Why on earth when you can have the best of both worlds - exceptional flavor and taste along with the healthiest of ingredients - would you choose anything less?
Our organic certification means that every aspect of what we do is carefully controlled and the source of every single ingredient is traceable. Strict uniform standards are met that are verified by independent state or private organizations. The regulations require inspections of Certified Organic farm fields and processing facilities, detailed record keeping, and periodic testing of soil and water to ensure that growers and handlers are meeting the standards. Organic refers to the method used to grow and process agricultural products. Instead of petroleum-based fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators, organic farming relies on compost, naturally occurring minerals, and beneficial insects, such as lady bugs, to maintain soil productivity and plant health. The goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.
At Thoreau Foods, we believe that we have lots more control in maintaining good health beyond our genetic inheritance and that ultimately, the health of our environment is an extremely important factor. By insisting upon organic, you are practicing good global citizenship and are a conscientious steward of our environmental resources. The evidence continues to mount that organic crops produce fruits richer in vitamins and minerals when compared to conventional produce, better for our health and the health of the farm workers who handle them. That's why all our products are made with organic or wild crafted ingredients whenever available and we have added classes and retreats to our business model where we have hands on workshops on everything from Setting up a Healthy Kitchen to Preserving your Summer Harvest.
Links to Organic Sites
Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based business association representing the organic industry in North America. Members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmer associations, brokers, manufacturers, consultants, distributors and retailers.
"The mission of OTA is to encourage global sustainability through promoting and protecting the growth of diverse organic trade."
Northeast Organic Farming Association - The Northeast Organic Farming Association is an affiliation of seven state chapters: