Organic products are grown in environmentally friendly ways. Toxic or persistent pesticides and other agricultural chemicals are prohibited. There is a focus on renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality. The label “organic” denotes products produced under the authority of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic Rule. And, according to the USDA, “The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole.”

 

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled “organic,” a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.

The USDA Organic seal assures consumers of the quality and integrity of organic products. Organic-certified operations must have an organic system plan and records that verify compliance with that plan. Operators are inspected annually in addition there are random checks to assure standards are being met.

We are BPA Free. We care about the health of customers and the environment. Our bottles are PET #1, not 3, 6, or 7. PET #1 is the most recyclable form of plastic and the safest for food and juices. It also does not contain the harmful and dangerous chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA), like some other plastics.

Citrus Greening Disease is one of the most serious diseases in the world. The scientific name is Huanglongbing (HLB) or yellow dragon disease. It is a bacterial disease that is spread by an insect called the Psyllid. Once a tree is infected, the disease spreads to the Phloem (the tree’s main artery) causing severe issues with nutrient uptake. The disease causes trees to starve and citrus fruits to drop from limbs prematurely and rot. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure.

With the spread of Citrus Greening Disease, we’ve unfortunately seen about a 40% reduction in our recent seasonal crop. This has forced us to alter our production procedures.

We are now having to supplement our U.S. orange juice with organic supply from Mexico. It’s the first time in our history that we’ve had to take action like this. Because we, along with the entire Florida citrus industry, have been affected by citrus greening disease, and because of the recent freezes to California citrus, we must go outside the U.S. for additional orange juice supply.

Rest assured our Mexican partners are USDA certified and must legally adhere to the same strict USDA standards that we abide by at Uncle Matt’s Organic. However, Uncle Matt’s Organic remains committed to local sourcing and still uses a vast majority of USA-sourced oranges for our delicious organic OJ. Our goal is still to source all USA oranges and our OJ will return to being fully USA sourced as soon as conditions allow.

This was a difficult decision. There were a number of factors that led to the smaller size bottle. Hurricane Irma, rising cost of goods, and the ongoing devastation from greening disease are all factors that led to the increased cost of producing our organic juices. Additionally, for the last year, our retail customers have been asking us to produce a smaller size container to be more in-line with other key brands they carry. We decided to go that route – to reduce our containers by roughly 10%, and avoid having to increase the retail price point.

We hope you will continue to enjoy Uncle Matt’s Organic juices, and we want to let you know that we’ve introduced two new sizes which are also options when purchasing. We have a new 28 oz size for our organic orange juice, grapefruit juice, apple juice and lemonade. We also produce a 12 oz single serve size offered in a variety of flavors.

We greatly value all of our customers and hope you’ll continue to enjoy our products.

Yes, we bottle all of our juice in the USA, Florida to be exact.

Choose organic when possible. Consumers like you are crucial to helping the fight against greening disease. Uncle Matt’s Organic has been a pioneering force and agricultural activist in the development of the organic citrus industry for this country. We’re committed to supporting family farmers and embarking on long-term, sustainable strategies to eradicate greening disease. Your support of the organic industry as a whole helps us as well.

By supporting organic farmers, you are helping companies create a more sustainable future.

And, by buying organic, you can feel good about the fact that you are promoting a much cleaner method for producing food that is healthy for you, your family and the planet.

To ensure that orange juice maintains a consistent taste and flavor, some orange juice brands work with flavor and fragrance companies to artificially flavor their juice using flavor packets. Made from orange essence and oils, flavor packets are added into juice to create a standard taste. While flavor packets might be chemically altered –– since they are technically derived from orange by-products –– they are not required to be listed as an ingredient.

Technically flavor packs are made from orange-derived substances, such as essences and oils. Companies break down the essence and oils into individual chemicals and recombine them into flavor packs.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require the contents of flavor packets to be detailed on a product’s packaging for orange juice.

While we cannot speak for other companies, Uncle Matt’s Organic believes that people have a right to know what’s in their food. Throughout our 15 year history, the company has maintained its steadfast commitment to producing the most wholesome, organic and natural produce and juice possible.

As part of our mission and to further underscore our pledge to consumers, we’ve added a “no flavor packets” sticker to our line of 100 percent organic, great-tasting citrus juices. While Uncle Matt’s Organic has never used flavor packets in our orange juice, the new label will help make it easier for consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

At this time, no. However, we do provide fresh organic oranges (and other citrus varieties) from November through June that you can purchase nationwide and squeeze at your home while in season. Our flash pasteurized organic orange juice is a convenient option for those who cannot purchase our fresh oranges and squeeze them at home.

Many producers of “not from concentrate” juice use a production process where the juice is placed in aseptic storage. Essentially, this means that oxygen is removed from the juice. A flavor packet is sometimes added in the final step to give the juice a specific flavor. Uncle Matt’s Organic bottles fresh seasonal fruit that is flash pasteurized from November through June. During the off-season, when Florida fresh organic fruit is not available, we store the majority of our organic juice in frozen drums, not aseptic tanks. That juice is blended until the season begins again in mid-November.

GanedenBC30 is an EXTREMELY stable probiotic due to the cell’s ability to form a protective spore. Just like plant seeds wait to grow until spring when the temperature and moisture levels are optimal, GanedenBC30 spores wait to germinate and grow until they reach the intestines where the conditions are just right. This protective shell also gives GanedenBC30 the ability to survive harsh manufacturing processes, product shelf life and finally, the journey through the digestive system – most other probiotics just can’t survive these stresses.

Ganeden has conducted extensive safety studies on GanedenBC³⁰, which have been published (Endres 2009, Endres2011) and culminated with Ganeden receiving FDA GRAS. These tests prove that even when GanedenBC³⁰ is consumed at much higher levels than what is found in food and beverage products, that there are no safety concerns. FDA GRAS is strain specific, and GanedenBC³⁰ is the only Bacillus that has been granted FDA GRAS status.

GanedenBC³⁰ is a spore-forming probiotic – which means that, similar to a seed, its genetic material is protected by a hard shell. This spore safeguards the probiotic from the heat, cold and pressure of manufacturing processes, allows for stability during the product shelf life and protects the cells from the acid and bile they are exposed to during transit through the digestive system. Once it is safely inside the small intestine, the probiotic germinates and colonizes to provide benefits.

GanedenBC³⁰ is gluten-free.

It is best to talk to your health care provider about any supplementation while pregnant.

Yes!

Turmeric root is an ancient culinary herb traditionally used for thousands of years as a flavorful and colorful spice in curry dishes. Today, turmeric is widely consumed as a superfood due to emerging research which has identified turmeric as a potent antioxidant and for its ability to support digestive health.

It is turmeric from Kauai Organic Farms in Hawaii. Kauai Organic Farms is a MegaFood Farm Fresh partner.

500mg

MegaFood’s Slo-Food Process includes a unique food drying technology called Refractance Window Drying. The benefit of this drying method is it maintains a food’s aromatic properties – color, smell, flavor- plus it’s nutritional value. Unlike more common drying methods, this gentle method does not expose the food to direct heat or extreme temperatures. As a result, the dried turmeric powder we produce tastes, smells and is as vibrant in color as the freshly harvest root. The bright orange color of Turmeric is directly related to it’s rich concentration of curcuminoid, the compounds identified to be responsible for turmeric’s antioxidant and health benefits.

Kauai Organic Farms is a family owned and operated farm on the North Shore of Kauai. Kauai is known as the Garden Island of Hawaii, it offers nutrient rich soils and a constant supply of fresh rainwater. It has proven to be the ideal location for our specialty organic farm.

A Family Farm

Phil and Linda Green have owned Kauai Organic Farms for the last 10 years. Originally from Michigan, they met in college and have been married for over 30 years. After moving to North Carolina in 1979, they began visiting Kauai regularly and always knew it held a special place in their heart.

After Phil retired from over twenty years of reforestation work in North Carolina, Phil and Linda decided to pursue their dream of owning a farm in Hawaii. In 2004 they packed up and moved to Kauai. With little knowledge of growing ginger, they took a risk and purchased an established farm growing four acres of ginger. Slowly they expanded and added turmeric and galangal to their product offerings.

Phil and Linda continually make improvements with their growing techniques and cover cropping. They now manage up to 15 employees at any given time and are passionate for sustainable agriculture. They keep extensive records and visit their fields several times a day, continuously inspecting the growth and plant needs.

Phil and Linda continue to enjoy the Kauai lifestyle, taking advantage of the beautiful land and ocean activities, and being active members of their communities. They enjoy watching the sunrise each day, tackling the daily challenges that exist with growing and sustaining a business, and get much satisfaction at the end of the day by watching the sky colors change over their fields. They truly are living their dream.

Although, it is considered safe to consume turmeric root in as a food during pregnancy and nursing, it’s spicy & hot flavor may be to strong for some woman. Taking turmeric root as a dietary supplement in an extract form is contraindicated for use during pregnancy and lactation.

Our Fruit Infused Organic Probiotic Waters are processed using extremely high pressure – rather than heat – to maximize flavor and nutrient density. GanedenBC30 is a spore-forming probiotic – which means that, similar to a seed, its genetic material is protected by a hard shell. This spore safeguards the probiotic from the heat, cold and pressure of manufacturing processes.

We included patented and peer reviewed GanedenBC30 in our probiotic waters as well as our probiotic juices. Just like plant seeds wait to grow until spring when the temperature and moisture levels are optimal, GanedenBC30 spores wait to germinate and grow until they reach the intestines where the conditions are just right. It’s non-GMO, calorie and gluten free, kosher, and organic. Our probiotic supports digestion, aids in boosting your immunity and supports protein absorption.

No, not at all. Our juices are very mildly sweetened by the natural sugars in our lemon, orange and grapefruit waters only. Our juices
contain only what mother nature provides! No sweeteners, no preservatives. You can feel good about drinking our Fruit Infused
Probiotic Waters, too, as they are 10 calories or less and 2g of sugar or less per serving. These are great for everyday hydration, your
child’s lunchbox, and even for working out! Our Probiotic Juices are also a smart choice for a nutrient-dense beverage any time of day.

Yes! All of our products are USDA certified organic, which means they are farmed and processed without GMOs. We’re a company committed to only farming and producing by organic methods.

Kombucha is a probiotic, fermented beverage made by mixing tea, water, and sugar with starter from a previous kombucha batch to grow a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria (SCOBY). Kombucha fermentation is a metabolic process in which sugars are converted into acids, gases and/or alcohols.

The SCOBY often appears as a mat consisting of bacteria and yeasts grown by the kombucha during fermentation. Kombucha brewing is self-replicating — starter (kombucha from a previous batch) is added to a sugared tea, which then begin to ferment this new source of fuel. The yeasts convert sucrose to glucose and fructose during fermentation and the acetic acid producing bacteria then convert fructose into acetic acid (which provides kombucha with its sour flavor and some of its antimicrobial activity). The process can be repeated indefinitely, though placing kombucha in refrigeration will dramatically slow the fermentation process.

All kombucha has sugar in it — it is one of the main fuel source for kombucha fermentation, i.e. what the kombucha culture breaks down and uses to produce kombucha. The only way to have a sugar free kombucha is to ferment all the sugars, making a kombucha vinegar, and then add a sugar alternative to restore the taste of sweetness.

Yes, our kombucha is raw and unpasteurized, so the beneficial bacteria that brewed the kombucha are still alive in the beverage! The culture is an heirloom used for over a decade originally starting in home brew and now scaled up for larger production.

The fermentation process naturally produces organic acids and beneficial bacteria that are friendly to your gut. Each batch can vary slightly depending on time, temperature, and fermentation. No probiotics are added the brew, however.

Our kombucha is never pasteurized so that the beneficial bacteria that brewed the kombucha are still alive in the beverage! The fermentation process naturally produces organic acids and beneficial bacteria that are friendly to your gut. Each batch can vary slightly depending on time, temperature, and fermentation. No probiotics are added the brew, however.

Caffeine is one of the raw ingredients the kombucha culture consumes as it is fermenting, so the brew does start with some caffeine (from organic green teas). Most of this caffeine is consumed during fermentation. The finished product should have about 6 mg of caffeine per serving (about the same as white tea or decaffeinated Starbucks).

Our kombucha is tested every week during brewing and then again before it gets bottled to ensure we are below 0.5% ABV, making it a non alcoholic beverage like unpasteurized fruit juice. However, there is a trace amount of alcohol in most brews (FYI for those who have an alcohol allergy or require no alcohol consumption for other reasons).

The recommended shelf life for Uncle Matt’s Organic Kombucha is 5 months from date of production and we recommend you drink within 7 days of opening.

Out of refrigeration (whether the bottle has been opened or left closed), kombucha fermentation will continue and tip the scales away from sweet and more towards tart, after a long enough time becoming kombucha vinegar. You will also taste and see some degradation of the fruit flavors since they will break more quickly at room temperature than in refrigeration. While it’s unlikely that your kombucha will go “bad” or become unsafe, the recommended shelf life for this kombucha in refrigeration is 5 months. We cannot recommend a shelf life outside of refrigeration.

Another concern is that bottles that have been left out can build up a lot of pressure. Be careful when opening the bottle (refrigerate first and open over the sink using a towel).