Questions

 

Where are the seeds made?

 

The seeds are roasted & packed at our East Yorkshire base. They’re then sent out by van to our retailers.

 

Where are the seeds and fruits grown?

 

We get our flax (or linseed) from our own farm in East Yorkshire, & sunflower seeds from farms in the East of England and France, and pumpkin seed from China and Austria. All the seeds are fully traceable and we try to get the best quality possible from the growers we work with. As a natural product, sometimes the growing conditions aren’t ideal and the seed size and content varies a little.

Our fruits are grown in California (the raisins) and Canada (the cranberries). All products we buy from outside the UK travel by sea and land – so no air freighting

 

How are the energy seeds made?

 

We started by roasting the seeds in an aga. This was clearly uncommercial, and not too successful, so we looked for another option. We’ve experimented, and now use a secret(ish) process that involves hot circulating air to keep the seeds roasting evenly. As each type of seed varies in its’ toastability we roast each for a different length of time to keep the highest nutritional level. The flavours are all natural ingredients blended with the seeds during the cooking process.

 

And the seedy bars?

 

These are now being made using dates, pumpkin seed, and linseed; with different fruits added including cranberries and apples. They are a raw product  and have nothing added, so are as natural a food as you could hope for.

 

Why is there a flower on your logo?

 

The blue flower you see is the linseed, or flax, flower. The seeds form from the flower. This flower came from a photo taken in the flax field on the farm last year – so what you see is what you get!

 

How do I recycle your packaging?

 

Our new labels are printed on paper made from sustainable European forests. These are forests that are well managed and replanted. We are thinking about using recycled paper stock, so if you have any expert knowledge on this then do get in touch.

 

Our tubs can be recycled, but it’s better to reuse them as they are. So if you want to store anything from foods to safety pins, give them a try. We know there are a couple of companies out there using biodegradeable packaging made from corn starch (Foogo and Innocent drinks). We would like to join them, and are waiting for stronger containers to be developed that would suit our products.

 

For more info on recycling, go to www.recycle-more.co.uk . For a good and general view on environmental issues, have a look at: www.worldchanging.com

 

 

Why should we buy your seeds and bars?

 

There are a few reasons. We think that our devotion to the flavour & healthiness of our products should start to swing the balance. They are 100% natural and made with nutrition in mind – so we keep the seeds as raw as possible, and don’t use any E numbers, preservatives, and additives. Also, we’re a long way from being the biggest supplier, but we do aim to be the best. By buying our products and helping the fruitface business grow, you’re helping us to produce more and better products, and helping the social projects outlined below.

 

How long do the bars and seeds last for?

 

Because we don’t use preservatives, the bars (which contain fresh ingredients) should last for about 6 weeks, and the seeds for approximately 5 months.

 

Are your products organic?

 

No. They are completely natural and healthy, and sometimes the pumpkin seed we buy is certified organic, but we are not a certified organic business. We aim to get the best tasting seeds and ingredients, and found no improvement in taste, and more variation in quality when we tried the (more expensive) certified organic products.

 

Are the seeds and bars suitable for different dietary requirements?

 

The seeds are suitable for diabetics, vegetarians, and vegans, and the seeds (including the soy sauce flavour) are gluten free.

 

Do your seeds contain nuts?

 

They don’t contain nuts, but we can’t guarantee that some of the ingredients haven’t been handled alongside nuts. So be careful.

 

Who benefits from the increased use of seeds?

 

We like to think that everyone does. They are healthy for the consumer, and provide a good mix of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. The growers benefit from having a healthy market for their seeds. We benefit from having a healthy business that means we can supply more new products, and also do more social projects such as sponsoring local youth sports teams, and put more time and effort into helping other young businesses through the Princes’ Trust.

 

Where does the idea of eating seeds come from?

 

Seeds are eaten all over the world as a snack, in China, the Middle East, the Mediterranean countries – including Spain. Apparently in Spanish football stadiums alone over 2,200 tonnes of seeds are eaten every season.

They’re now much more popular in the UK than when we first started, with comments about birdseed and budgies much less common. There are still converts to be made though!