Napa Valley Naturals NOT RAW

[Dimond]

Yep, I'm the bearer of bad news again. :rolleyes: When people were mentioning this oil and we were discussing raw olive oil, I was pretty sure that there weren't any true raw ones (in the U.S.) besides Bariani's (and possibly a private label co.) So I decided to question their methods in hope there was another oil we could add to our list. But unfortunately not.

Part of their process: The olives go into the malaxor. Here the crushed olives are heated and mixed into a thick paste.

[Eva]

Bummer. Thanks for sharing. I have been forced to buy really expensive olive oil to get organic and cold pressed here in Hungary. When I get back to the states, I'll be more willing to have the tasty Bariani rather than the cheapy stuff at the store that never seemed quite right.

[spicyfull]

Thanks for taking the time to Share.

[Linda1970]

Thanks for sharing. I've been using this for for a year. This is very deceiving becaused it says on the bottle that it is "cold pressed at temperatures below 98.5".

[Linda1970]

I just emailed Napa Valley Naturals and asked if the olives are heated before they are cold-pressed into oil. They said no. This is exactly what the response is:

"Dear Linda,

The olives are not heated before pressing.

Sincerely,
Hannah"

[Linda1970]

Yep, I'm the bearer of bad news again. :rolleyes: When people were mentioning this oil and we were discussing raw olive oil, I was pretty sure that there weren't any true raw ones (in the U.S.) besides Bariani's (and possibly a private label co.) So I decided to question their methods in hope there was another oil we could add to our list. But unfortunately not.

Part of their process: The olives go into the malaxor. Here the crushed olives are heated and mixed into a thick paste.


GilmoreGirl,

Do you know the name of the person that gave you the info?


Linda

[Dimond]

That's funny because Hannah is the one I got the info from. That was the exact quote she sent today.

I don't just ask if they're heated, but about the whole entire process because that's usually when you get the real answers.

[queenfluff]

Well, this sucks. I can't afford the bariani and we use a lot of olive oil. Yes, it is very misleading - the bottle even gives you the temps. What a bummer.

[Dimond]

anyone in california who wants to buy cases of 6 or 12, i can get you better deals. email me. wish i could offer this to everyone. costs a fortune to have it shipped to myself. :rolleyes:

[kaybee]

ok, im not into lawsuits, but i wish there was some way to make that company make up for all the deceptive advertising. I would go out of my way to buy their oils--not only olive, but either their sesame or sunflower ALSO gives the pressing temperature on it, and i would spend more money by buying those oils even if other oils were on sale because I thought I was getting RAW oil. Come on!!! what a manipulative thing to do by putting the low pressing temperature on the bottles. WHAT DOES THE LOW PRESSING TEMPERATURE MATTER IF THE OLIVES HAVE ALREADY BEEN HEATED? HELLO!!???? so incredibly deceptive and frustrating. CLEARLY just a ploy to make money. ggggrrr....

[Dimond]

There are so many companies that do this. So many that claim they're raw, but aren't. It is quite annoying, not to mention costly. Because even though it's not truly raw, they'll charge you for it like it is. :mad: There are so many companies that raw foodists thought were high quality and truly raw, only to find out after using their products for months or years, they're not. This is why I email every single company and ask in-depth questions. Even then, we may never truly know.

[kaybee]

SO FRUSTRATING!

Gilmore Girl--just a tip on buying the bariani--are there any raw foods restaurants in your area? if so, maybe they use it and if they buy it by the case would sell you a couple bottles. I know there are some health food shops that actually stock it, too, so maybe try to talk your local hfs into carrying it? if there are other raw fooders in your area, then maybe it would be worth it for the hfs to carry it. i know one of the markets in seattle carried it, and one in minneapolis. hehehe--i know seattle or minneapolis arent much good to you, but my point is that sometimes hfs will carry it, then you would save on the shipping. might pay a bit more for the product than if you bought it direct, but would save on the shipping.

[Emma-Liza]

This is the olive oil I get:
http://www.livingtreecommunity.com/store2/products.asp?catid=16

They have a detailed description of their process and state the olives & oil never go over 70 degrees. It's expensive, too, but they've got special pricing if you buy more.

I've ordered several things from Living Tree and never been disappointed in the quality.

[notwell]

Living Tree is WAY more expensive than Bariani. I ordered in bulk from GG & saved over $60.

on a side note, there use to be some issues with Living Tree that other companies buying their products had. like things not being truly raw, etc. i "think" they may be better now, but not positive. they seem to have gotten some new products so maybe that resolved things. not trying to scare anyone away... I'd like to try their Alive butters. That was one product I believe wasn't raw before, but now is. Them, Artisana & I think one other co. are the only real raw ones.

[debilana]

rejunative almond, etc butters are raw, right? I see them in the fridge at my WF but I do not have 30 bucks to shell out for almond butter...I bet its good tho=)

[kaybee]

hey debilana--i cant help you with info on the rejuvenative foods, but just FYI if your looking for olive oil, Madison Market on Capitol Hill has the living tree brand and I think maybe the bariani too...call and check before you go all the way down there though; sometimes their raw food section is running on empty if they are waiting for a shipment to come in.

[Dimond]

rejunative almond, etc butters are raw, right? I see them in the fridge at my WF but I do not have 30 bucks to shell out for almond butter...I bet its good tho=) Only some of their products are raw. I actually was disappointed to find out their butters aren't all raw. The cashew definitely isn't, sesame products s aren't, never got a confirmation if they use raw almonds though I questioned this several times, not sure about others. Think the salsas & sauerkrauts are. This was a brand many raved about & I had always meant to try it but didn't because it was so expensive. Artisana's cashew butter doesn't use raw cashews either. So basically if 100% raw isn't important to you, go with the cheap brands instead of these others.

[RawHeaven]

I'm not defending these companies, but I sincerely wonder if they're operating on a different definition of what raw is all about and what we consider to be raw or not. Are we working with the same information? I try to focus on the fact that they're trying to do their best and at the very least their products are not full of transfats and other poisons. I'm sure there is deceptive advertising out there, but are we putting everyone in the same bubble without maybe really checking in with them? Perhaps they really do believe they're selling "raw" products. Who knows. When you find out, you have a choice. Continue to eat it or stop eating it. If I come across an item that is not raw that I thought was raw, I either stop eating it or perhaps make a decision to carry on. I don't sweat over it too much. There is a much better use of my energy and certainly those companies are going to keep on keeping on unless you really want to spearhead a witch hunting campaign against them. Are we any better if we approach it this way? You're not really going to get anywhere with Sally in Customer Service who is just doing her job. If you really want to affect change you've got to go to the top anyway - talk to the Prez or senior officers. Find out where their heads are at before you decide they are intentionally deceiving the public. That said, I'd rather my loved ones eat the semi raw cashew butter than the dairy products they're currently consuming. Know what I mean?

Peace,
Crystal

[Eva]

I sincerely wonder if they're operating on a different definition of what raw is all about and what we consider to be raw or not. Are we working with the same information?


That is a very good question. I think there must be a thousand shades of gray with various definitions of raw, even just here on this board.

I know that I've heard Madhava's agave that is labeled as raw may not really be raw, but no one seems to know that one for sure. But... I accidentally bought the non-raw (labeled) version once by the same company. WOW! Worlds away from the one I usually get. I had to pawn it off on my husband because I could tell it was dead. I dig the regular "raw" stuff even if I'm not 100% sure it's perfectly raw.

I do my best. The companies probably/hopefully do their best. I am not running around naked in a garden only eating apples as they fall off the tree. I do purchase products (like agave and olive oil) that come in a bottle. Sometimes, I have to just make the call to do my best without going totally cuckoo!

[debilana]

ooo I have not been to Madison Market in a bit- but I hear that they are carrying the fresh stuff Adam from Nature's Pantry is making and its selling like hotcakes=) Raw is thriving in Seattle, economy issues or not!

AYe I have seen that oil there- they also carry a Brazil nut oil which I want for a present someday=)

Thrive is opening soon and I am excited to see what they will be carrying.

[RawHeaven]

I do my best. The companies probably/hopefully do their best. I am not running around naked in a garden only eating apples as they fall off the tree. I do purchase products (like agave and olive oil) that come in a bottle. Sometimes, I have to just make the call to do my best without going totally cuckoo!

Haha! I hear you Eva.

[debilana]

I think considering the high cost of things like raw cashews, alot of these companies are doing the best they can. Raw cashews like at the HFS or whereever are still more alive than the non raw ones. I buy Artisana cashew butter for stuff like raw ice creams and candies and in small amounts I notice nothing adverse.

I also buy the really raw cashews and use them in my granola bars because I eat those more often.

It is good to question but if a company is striving to provide a quality product- like Living or Artisana- and not just some crap ,like Kraft or whatever- then I might ask a few questions but I am not going to roast them over the coals. Its hard to make a buck on food ,esp these days=( Better to keep the littler guys in biz...

[RawHeaven]

Raw is thriving in Seattle, economy issues or not!



Great to hear! I know I've slashed my grocery budget by 50-60% by eating raw for over a year. At first I was piling up on the gourmet raw stuff and now my diet is very simple and I frequent farmer's markets a lot - hardly spending that much. I think it could be comparing apples and oranges. SAD and Raw food expenditures do shift further away from one another I think or at least it's been my experience. You may pay a little or a lot more in the beginning, but eventually you will reap dividends on your investment. No pun intended.

[debilana]

I am learning to make most of my own treats- I spend alot on bulk raw but I am not so tempted to spend on prepackaged raw so much.

I have a monster sweet tooth tho and I like to support my local raw chefs, so I give in a time or two a week=)

[kaybee]

hey all-- i agree with what youre saying about some companies doing the best they can...but the napa valley naturals thing IS really deceptive. they specifically list the pressing temperature on the bottles...but the low pressing temperature obviously makes no difference if the stuffs been heated already.... so i cant cut them any slack for this, sorry. totally misrepresenting.

[blaqberry]

I do my best. The companies probably/hopefully do their best. I am not running around naked in a garden only eating apples as they fall off the tree. I do purchase products (like agave and olive oil) that come in a bottle. Sometimes, I have to just make the call to do my best without going totally cuckoo!

LOL ...touche ;)

I can relate to that.

[Emma-Liza]

I don't know about Napa Valley process specifically, but a malaxer does not necessarily heat up; it depends on how it is run. Most have temperature controls and the product temperature can be maintained anywhere the operator chooses. If this Hannah person said two different things to two separate people, maybe she really doesn't know.

[saxmaam]

hey all-- i agree with what youre saying about some companies doing the best they can...but the napa valley naturals thing IS really deceptive. they specifically list the pressing temperature on the bottles...but the low pressing temperature obviously makes no difference if the stuffs been heated already.... so i cant cut them any slack for this, sorry. totally misrepresenting.

I agree. It smells more like deception than simple ignorance.

[SpeakLow]

i know one of the markets in seattle carried it, and one in minneapolis.

Do you know which market in Minneapolis carries it?

Thanks!

[RawHeaven]

hey all-- i agree with what youre saying about some companies doing the best they can...but the napa valley naturals thing IS really deceptive. they specifically list the pressing temperature on the bottles...but the low pressing temperature obviously makes no difference if the stuffs been heated already.... so i cant cut them any slack for this, sorry. totally misrepresenting.


that would definately be deceptive, but i still would wonder if everyone was on the same page. the higher ups i mean. i don't know why i keep harping on that - just have a feeling about this company that there's more than meets the eye. maybe they started out with a lot of integrity and profit margins got in the way.

[kaybee]

the market is called the ____________ the something...hmmmm. i would call first to check because it was a friend who lives in minneapolis had the bariani, and maybe i just assumed they got it there..... the.... forge? plow? nope. somethign like that... a little health food shop. never actually been to it but my friends family goes there all the time. sorry.... look for a health food shop that starts with "the"... hmmm. thats not much help. also maybe call ecopolitan? they have a shop there too and i cant imagine they sell/use a not-really-raw oil. shoot. sorry. cant remember the name.

kaybee
AHHHH. the WEDGE. just looked online ;)