Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Hi all! My impression is the same a 's about alfalfa sprouts - that media attention on an isolated problem has given them a bad rep. We got rather bored with plain alfalfa sprouts after a while though. Right now we're enjoying an equal mix of alfalfa, clover, radish and mustard all sprouted together. It has a zestier flavor. I've haven't tried pea sprouts yet, but really enjoyed sunflower sprouts which I used to sprout in an inch of dirt. Three years ago we moved to Oregon from Colorado (USA) and I haven't had as much luck with them. I searched some sprouting sites this Spring and found that several advocate a method of sprouting them without soil (and sell trays etc.), then I found them in a " natural food " store in bulk with the bare roots. Does anyone have experience or opinions about this? I am feeling inspiration to start a small sprouting business to supply a local food coop near our new home (we moved 2 weeks ago) and I'm planning to spend the next several months experimenting. I wouldn't sell alfalfa or mung bean sprouts, since they already have suppliers for these, but there is a real need for others. Good to see some new discussion here, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Hi everyone! If you haven't seen our pages and links about the reality of food safety you might want to look at: http://www..net/safe.html I've not altered that page in ages but it is already enough to show that the dangers related to sprouts are as an atom is to the universe (well, perhaps that is over doing it, but you get my meaning =:-) The Poultry, Meat and Dairy industries have vast well funded lobbies which keep them safe - sprouts have NO lobby! That is the most of it right there, but regardless of what you eat we think it best to buy from people you trust and whenever possible to buy organic which has always been safer than conventional food. Of course the best way of all is to grow your own food and to shop at farmer's markets and co-ops for what you can't grow ..... at least that is what we do for ourselves =:-D Be well and happy! Gil The Sproutpeople > There are numerous articles stating alfalfa sprouts as the source of Salmonella outbreaks as storage conditions maintained by distributors can be ideal for sustaining this bacteria. The most notorious out break occurred in Canada between 1994 & 1995 and involved 135 cases where about 13 people were hospitalized. As approximately 100,000 people\yr, in the US alone, are estimated to die of food poisoning contracted from meat, dairy, and mishandled produce, alfalfa sprouts are comparably safe. There was a recently documented outbreak of salmonella in California involving 60 people who ingested commercially grown alfalfa sprouts and this caused a lot of the hoopla and articles trying to debunk use of sprouts for health. Stick to organically grown in the US seeds for optimum safety. It seems the imported seeds have been the culprits. Nice chatting with you, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Don't give up Karine......I find that in the colder weather the sprouts take a day or two longer. In another day or two you should see tiny leaves. When you do, put them in indirect lighting and they will " Green up " for you. Did you soak them for eight hours first? Roy Karine Frigon <KARINE_FRIGON@...> wrote: Hi there! It look like I have a little problem with my alfalfa sprouts. This is my first time with them. They are supposed to be easy to sprouts so I'm ashamed to say that after 3 to 4 days, they are still so little that I'm planning to throw them away. I rinse them 2 times a day... Do I need to do more? How am I supposed to make them sprout? Thanks for your help! Karine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Also, Karine, you can eat them without " greening " them. I have soaked and barely sprouted alfalfa seeds for 15 years--have never " greened " them--and they're still an excellent food. So, don't throw them away. :-) Robyn www.greensmoothiegirl.com > Hi there! > It look like I have a little problem with my alfalfa sprouts. > This is my first time with them. They are supposed to be easy to sprouts so I'm ashamed to say that after 3 to 4 days, they are still so little that I'm planning to throw them away. > I rinse them 2 times a day... Do I need to do more? > How am I supposed to make them sprout? > Thanks for your help! > Karine > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Hi Robyn, Hi Roy, I think they didn't even reached one inch.... )) Still, I can see some greens but they are so smalls.... How come...? Karine Re: Alfalfa sprouts Don't give up Karine......I find that in the colder weather the sprouts take a day or two longer. In another day or two you should see tiny leaves. When you do, put them in indirect lighting and they will " Green up " for you. Did you soak them for eight hours first? Roy Karine Frigon <KARINE_FRIGON@...> wrote: Hi there! It look like I have a little problem with my alfalfa sprouts. This is my first time with them. They are supposed to be easy to sprouts so I'm ashamed to say that after 3 to 4 days, they are still so little that I'm planning to throw them away. I rinse them 2 times a day... Do I need to do more? How am I supposed to make them sprout? Thanks for your help! Karine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Commercial growers use big tanks and use gas for quick growing. They grow alfalfa in a 24hr. period not 7 days. If you look at commercial mung beans they look like they have been turned inside out.This is done by manipulating the growing conditions for maximum growth in minimal time.They are focused on production meeting customer demands and most importantly being profitable.Alfalfa has anti-nutrient issues when harvested at the more youthful state which should be considered as far as when to harvest.I prefer to grow alfalfa for4-7 days getting a full vibrant growth with some greening.I love the way it crunches on sprout sadwiches and how it enhances a bowl of salsa.Jeff @...: robyn@...: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:39:28 +0000Subject: Re: Alfalfa sprouts Those alfalfa sprouts are grown TOO LONG. That's one the advantages of home sprouting--fresh, nutritionally maximized sprouts.Robynwww.greensmoothiegirl.com> Hi there!> It look like I have a little problem with my alfalfa sprouts.> This is my first time with them. They are supposed to be easy to sprouts so I'm ashamed to say that after 3 to 4 days, they are still so little that I'm planning to throw them away.> I rinse them 2 times a day... Do I need to do more?> How am I supposed to make them sprout?> Thanks for your help!> Karine> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]> > ---------------------------------> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]> > ---------------------------------> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]> > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]> _________________________________________________________________ Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser! http://biggestloser.msn.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 I use FreshLife and I love it. I live near the distributer and one of their employees lives near me and she has taught me several tricks to get the maximum from it. ew > Alfalfa sprouts > > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:05:00 -0500 > > > > Hi there! > > It look like I have a little problem with my alfalfa sprouts. > > This is my first time with them. They are supposed to be easy to > > sprouts so I'm ashamed to say that after 3 to 4 days, they are still > > so little that I'm planning to throw them away. > > I rinse them 2 times a day... Do I need to do more? > > How am I supposed to make them sprout? > > Thanks for your help! > > Karine > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 I researched that very question and found that the sprouts in stores are grown in hydroponic containers and chemicals are added to get them to grow that big. I personally don't like to put chemicals in my body, that's why I have a large organic garden. When you grow your own, you know what you're eating. ew Re: Alfalfa sprouts Don't give up Karine......I find that in the colder weather the sprouts take a day or two longer. In another day or two you should see tiny leaves. When you do, put them in indirect lighting and they will " Green up " for you. Did you soak them for eight hours first? Roy Karine Frigon <KARINE_FRIGON@...> wrote: Hi there! It look like I have a little problem with my alfalfa sprouts. This is my first time with them. They are supposed to be easy to sprouts so I'm ashamed to say that after 3 to 4 days, they are still so little that I'm planning to throw them away. I rinse them 2 times a day... Do I need to do more? How am I supposed to make them sprout? Thanks for your help! Karine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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