/24-7PressRelease/ - LANCASTER, PA, August 22, 2008 - When most people hear the word "hemp," images of rope or drug use come to mind. Not to Shawn Patrick House, owner of Lancaster Trading House. He thinks of the myriad of ways industrial hemp can be incorporated into today's eco-aware healthy consumer market.
Hemp is not pot as an orange is not a lemon or the donkey is not a Palomino.
The industrial hemp House seeks to contract with Pennsylvania farmers to produce was actually extremely important to the Pennsylvania economy prior to 1890's. In fact, in many of the colonies such as Jamestown, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut encouraged farmers to grow Indian hemp.
And to add a bit of irony to the Controlled Substances Act of the 1970s, taxes could be paid with hemp in the 17th and 18th centuries, and in February 1937, Popular Mechanics called hemp the "New Billion Dollar Crop." Presently all major industrialized nations except the US grow industrial hemp.
House's use of hemp is in the form of the seed, nut and oil. "Lancaster Trading House, Inc. produces Hempzels brand of pretzels and Natalie's brand of Hemp food products," House said. Currently, all of his hemp raw material must be imported despite the fact that his company ships direct to local and regional health food stores.
"Hempseed is one of the most perfect sources for human nutrition in all of nature. In addition to its excellent flavor profile, the seed meat protein supplies all essential amino acids in an easily digestible form and with a high protein efficiency ratio," House said.
In May of 1999, Sesame Sourdough Hempzels was awarded 2nd place for the Best Pretzel taste in a blind taste-test of 30 submissions. So not only is hempseed good for you and the economy, but it also tastes great.
Industrial hemp fiber is now used in a plethora of consumer products from car parts for BMW's, Dodge, Chrysler & Lotus. Consumers will find hemp oil in national cosmetic lines, soaps, lotions, lip balm and more.
Canadian companies produce hemp ice cream, hemp seed oil salad dressings while American companies produce hemp breads, pretzels, granola, cereals, milk, nut butters and more - all containing hemp seed, hemp flour and hemp oil.
"Hemp is an excellent rotation crop," House said. "And in Lancaster County, it was grown when tobacco prices where down prior to the 1890's. I want to give the farmers that choice again."
For more information, visit http://hempzels.com or pick up a bag of Peanut Butter Hempzel Pretzel Nuggets at Giant Foods on the Pennsylvania Preferred rack.
Contact Information:
Shawn Patrick House
Owner, CEO
Lancaster Trading House, Inc.
PO Box 302 • Lancaster, PA 17608
717-684-9808
800-USE HEMP (873-4367)
sales@hempzels.com
hempzels@comcast.net
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