Green Pasture: The Story of a Nebraska Family Farm

You’ve probably heard of Dr. Weston A. Price. This Canadian dentist (1870–1948) could tell from the condition of people’s teeth whether they ate healthily or unhealthily. Price traveled the world to discover the dietary patterns of healthy populations. He conducted extensive research among traditional peoples. And it is exactly these findings that form the foundation of Green Pasture’s philosophy. In this blog article, we’ll tell you all about it.

Contents

• Where Green Pasture meets Weston A. Price
• The common thread: fats, vitamins A, D, E and K, and minerals
• Vitamin-rich butter oil and cod liver oil
• Why are some products fermented?
• Why does the content differ per batch?
• Quality comes first
• Green Pasture: for body and mind

Where Green Pasture meets Weston A. Price

After a long career in the steel industry, Dave Wetzel decided it was time for a change. More time with family, working from passion, and living closer to nature became his new guiding principles. Together with his wife Barbara, he purchased a grass-based dairy farm. Not long after, he attended a lecture by Sally Fallon Morell, co-founder and president of the Weston A. Price Foundation. Sally spoke about vitamin-rich butter oil made from the milk of cows grazing on rapidly growing green grass. Dave realized he had struck gold – and thus the story of Green Pasture began.

The common thread: Fats, vitamins A, D, E and K, and minerals

So what was so special about the diets of traditional peoples? Dr. Price discovered a strong common denominator in their food: they consumed at least ten times as many fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K as the average American at that time, and their diets were rich in minerals, mostly from animal sources. Price identified three animal-based superfoods with high concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals: raw milk, organ meats, and fish. He also described a digestion chain: fats – minerals – vitamins, where one acts as a key to unlock the other. In other words: fats are required for mineral absorption, and minerals are required for vitamin absorption. Clearly, fats form the foundation. Price was a pioneer of epigenetics and far ahead of his time.

Vitamin-rich butter oil and cod liver oil

Fascinated by Dr. Price’s carefully documented observations on the many health benefits of butter oil, Dave and Barbara of Green Pasture did not hesitate. In 2003, they dedicated their lush pastures and entrepreneurial drive to creating the product now known as Concentrated Butter Oil. Another discovery of Dr. Price was that butter oil combined with cod liver oil created powerful nutritional synergy. Patients who consumed both oils simultaneously experienced dramatic improvements in oral and overall health. In 2007, Green Pasture expanded its product line with fermented cod and skate liver oils. Today, Green Pasture Products include several nutrient-rich items.

Why are some products fermented?

Green Pasture uses fermentation as a technique for several products. While fermentation is trendy again today, it is in fact an ancient method. It makes food last longer, alters flavor, and increases health benefits by making nutrients more accessible. Fermented foods mimic digestion from within and help the body absorb nutrients. Fermentation is also an excellent way to extract cod liver oil from fish. Green Pasture combines traditional methods with modern standards, creating a superior product with natural vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. In cod liver oil, this also means natural antioxidants remain present, protecting the oil against oxidation while benefiting the body.

Why does the content differ per batch?

All Green Pasture products contain natural vitamins and no synthetic additives. Labels therefore read: “Fermented cod liver oil contains naturally occurring vitamins A and D” and “amounts of these nutrients may vary.” This is because the ingredients are pure and natural. The vitamin content of fish oil naturally varies when no synthetic vitamins are added. Factors such as geography, season, and fish species determine the nutrient profile of the oil. For this reason, Green Pasture provides estimated values for certain nutrients, such as vitamin D. These estimates closely match the actual values and reflect the freshness of the fish and oil!

Quality comes first

Dave and Barbara place great importance on quality. For Green Pasture, only the best and most sustainable raw materials are used, such as sustainably wild-caught, MSC-certified cod. The production process is impeccable: every step, from ocean to packaging, is tested by an independent party. Fermented cod liver oil has also been awarded MSC certification. And as recognition of this high quality, Green Pasture received Nebraska’s Distinguished Entrepreneur Award in 2012.

Green Pasture: For body and mind

We are proud to offer Green Pasture to you in our webshop and wholeheartedly recommend the products. With ingredients such as vitamins A and D, important for your immune system, and omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which support the brain. You can find all product information and health benefits with the products on our website. Green Pasture offers complete support for body and mind!