Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to wash your sprouts before eating?
You don't! Not any of them! One of the corporations we sell our retail containers to has a natinowide policy of requiring the "Wash well before use" on all sprout containers, no matter how many precautions the grower takes. Many sprout producers don't wash their sprouts before harvest...we wash every batch, removing the seed hulls resulting in a better looking, tasting, more shelf-stable and safer sprout. We personally eat all of our sprouts directly out of the container without any rinsing, and feed them to our grandma.
What are all the white fuzzy spots in my sprouts??
The are cilia, hairlike structures the radish (and to a lesser extent, broccoli) sprouts send out in search for water. They are perfectly safe to eat. Prove it? Wet a small area of the sprouts and the cilia will disappear, falling back against the main sprout root.
So how do I tell if they are safe to eat?
Like most fresh produce, sprouts should be kept refrigerated and handled with clean hands. The more times they are warmed up, the shorter the shelf life. Sprouts are good at showing when they're not good for eating any longer - they smell the same as lettuce does as it turns... they wilt and get mushy yellow spots, they eventually turn into a puddle. Check the bottom of the container, which is where you can usually find them start turning.
Are they the same as microgreens?
They aren't...sprouts are generally much younger than microgreens, include the entire plant (are not cut) and derive all of their nutritional power from the seeds, as they are grown without any soil or soil substitute. Which is more nutritious? It can be considered a toss up, but it's hard to overlook the number of articles written on the health benefits of broccoli sprouts, for example. Which is cheaper? Sprouts, easily. Which lasts longer? Sprouts! All of our sprout varities, besides mung beans, will last at least 3-4 weeks from harvest - we try to give customers about 7 days of freshness after the sellby date. Microgreens are known to have a shelf life closer to one week. Which has better texture, more flavor and is more versatile? Ok here we're definitely biased, but try our onion, spicy, or legumes out and get back to us!
Can I recycle the container?
Not in Columbus...and recent disappointing changes in the global recycling industry means that clamshell style containers (and bags), recycleable logo or not, are almost certainly not getting recycled. At the same time, grocery stores have been steering away from bulk-style sprout bins due to increased food safety regulations.
We're staying connected with sprouters around the country and looking for solutions.
In the meantime, it may sound trivial but "reuse" does come before "recycle", and we find the leftover sprout containers are easy to knock/rinse out and excellent to use as tupperware - take them when going out to eat, for picnic or roadtrip food. Getting 2-3 uses out of them reduces your baggies and tupperware consumption.
Are your sprouts organic?
They aren't...sprout farming requires large quantities of high-quality specialty seed, and there is not a reliable supply of organic seeds year-round. Technically, organic seeds are required for the vegetable to be considered organic. However, the benefits of indoor hydroponic farming allows us to grow sprouts in plain water, without any pesticides or herbicides, with a mild non-residual fertilizer used just on the mung beans. All other sprouts derive all of their nutrition from seed, water, and light only. As such, we consider them "chem free" and "organically grown". We use only non-GMO seed, as well.
Another question for us?
Please contact us, we're happy to add to this page!!!