VERIDITAS Botanicals By Elizabeth Archerd, director of Community development At the weDge Interviewing Melissa Farris, founder and owner of Veriditas Botanicals, is like try- ing to drink from a fire hose on full blast. Her knowledge and passion for essential oils, and her excitement to share all she knows are a powerful combination. Based in Bloomington, Minn., Veriditas Botanicals is the only 100-percent certi- fied-organic essential oil company on the U.S. retail market. While the warehouse, many staff members, and Farris are local, the product line comes from organic fields and forests on several continents. She is a member of cooperative of about 50 farm- ers who produce certified organic plants exclusively for their essential oils. At this point, 85 percent of the Veriditas oils come from the co-op. The co-op members farm in France, Madagascar, Argentina, Italy, Morocco and South Africa. Farris is friends with all the farmers and attends most of the harvests and distillations in Europe. She has also taught the chemis- try and medicinal use of essential oils at Bastyr University in Seattle and at two colleges in France. Farris and her products are no strangers to The Wedge. She sold essential oils and bulk tinctures with her first company, Simplers, introducing organic essential oils to the American marketplace in the 1990s. With Veriditas, she wants to revolutionize aromatherapy by using only certified organic, pharmaceutical-grade oils. Along with individual essential oils, the company offers treatment formulas to aid conditions that have few medical solutions, such as common warts. For more infor- mation, visit veriditasbotanicals/ wellness-formulas. The company helps educate consumers about the therapeutic uses of essential oils through services for retailers. Wedge shoppers have probably seen Terra Johnson the “Demo Girl Extraordinaire” offering samples many times. She’ll put a few drops of one of the Wellness Formu- las on your hands and talk you through how to use it. (Editorial comment: A few drops of Mental Clarity on one of the rainy gray days in June caused an amaz- ing energy turnaround and this author is now hooked.) The Veriditas commitment to organic production comes from two angles: the effectiveness of the oils and the impact on the environment. Farris explains that essential oils are part of a plant’s immune system, with strong antimicrobial prop- erties that ward off pests, bacteria and viruses. Plants sprayed with pesticides and insecticides do not develop strong oils because the chemicals do the job for them. That results in weak plants that produce weak oils. “We’re essentially bor- rowing plant immune systems by using essential oils,” she explains. There is little therapeutic value in using weak, conven- tional oils from commodity brokerage houses, which are often “extended” with synthetic substances. Choosing organic oils also keeps huge amounts of land under organic produc- tion, which is good for ecosystems and waterways. According to the Veriditas website, it takes 5.5 million freshly picked roses to produce one liter of organic rose essential oil, and two thousand pounds of lavender blossoms go into making a gallon of lavender oil. The acres it takes to grow them are free from toxic chemicals. Farris and the Veriditas team are passion- ate about supporting small, independent growers. Their passion for small business is also expressed by their choice of retail outlets. Veriditas products are only sold at food co-ops, independent natural food stores, and one family-owned grocery chain. Farris is very proud that while her products are only in 100 stores nation- wide, they sell almost $1 million per year, with record-breaking sales at The Wedge and other co-ops that far exceed those of competitors. Locally owned, cooperatively produced, organically grown, top grade products only sold through small, local retailers by a company with a strong commitment to consumer education. Hits all the notes, doesn’t it? 
Posted on: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 13:27:50 +0000
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