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OWH Benefits from New Technology

Oregon's Wild Harvest now has cutting edge technology in the form of an FTIR Spectrophotometer. This is a remarkable piece of equipment that allows us to easily positively identify every incoming raw material. We've always been committed to the principles of organic farming, and pride ourselves in providing the best quality herbs available. While we grow a large percentage of our own herbs and can therefore guarantee their purity, it is still necessary to obtain some herbs from other sources, such as those that do not naturally grow in this climate.

With the FTIR Spectrophotometer, our trained scientists will be able to say with certainty that, for example, "this is organic tumeric, and it contains no excipients (extra ingredients or contaminants)." For you, the consumer, this machine means an added assurance that you are getting what you think you're getting.

For us, it is a time-saving device that will eliminate the need to rely exclusively on organoleptics and thin layer chromatography to identify or verify our herbs. [Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a technique used to separate chemical compounds. It involves using a thin layer of absorbant material immobilized onto a flat, inert carrier sheet -- staining the slide to compare the consistency and intensity of color in different herbs] The increased efficiency provided by the FTIR Spectrophotometer will also free our chemists to do other types of analysis, focusing on heaving metal testing and identifying other contaminates. The Spectrophotometer, in conjunction with the herbarium and the addition of our own in-house botanist, Botany Bill, will help us to provide the highest level of assurance of quality and purity of our products.