Happy Hemp Harvest

Canada has been legally growing and selling hemp seeds since 1998 and is a major provider to the North American market. Since the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was thwarted in its attempt to ban hemp foods in 2004, the Hemp Industries Association reports that hemp food product sales have shown a 50-percent increase, from an estimated $8 million during the 12-month reference period in 2004 to almost $12 million in 2005.

Canadian growers played an important role in the coalition that challenged the DEA, and according to the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, Canadian farmers planted over 24,000 acres of hemp in 2005, almost triple the 2004 acreage, netting profits between $200 and $250 per acre.

Nutritious hemp seeds are readily available in many tasty forms, including hemp nut butter, hempseed oil, and protein powder. They contain an excellent balance of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, which are also found to varying degrees in other plant sources such as flaxseed and oil, fresh walnuts, beans, and even leafy green vegetables.