Maine Coast Sea Vegetables - organic hand-harvested edible seaweed

Seaweed Forum

Co-op America Approved for People and the Planet

Maine Coast Sea Vegetables was born in 1971 over a pot of miso soup in the kitchen of Linnette and Shep Erhart overlooking Hog Bay. They had just harvested and cooked their first alaria fronds and found the soup delicious! News of the discovery spread to friends; they told their friends...

From two people producing 200 pounds in 1971, there are now over thirty of us carefully handling around 100,000 pounds of sea vegetables annually. Another 15 year-round crew (see picture below) carefully sort, pack, and market your sea veggies 5 days per week here in Franklin (see picture above).

We offer six organically certified varieties: alaria, dulse, kelp, laver, sea lettuce and bladderwrack. They are hand harvested directly from their beds at low tides, dried at low temperatures by sun, wood or forced hot air and packed without further processing.

Milestones

1985: We test all our plants for 25 major nutritional factors. (see Nutritional Chart)
1986: Our consumer package now offers detailed nutritional analysis, usage guidelines and specific recipes.
1988: We are the first to initiate annual testing of plants for possible contaminants when ocean pollution became a concern.
1992: Maine Coast Sea Vegetables is the first processor world-wide to receive organic certification for its harvesting and handling procedures.
1992: We move to a renovated 9,500 square foot facility just a few miles from our original home at the head of Frenchman's bay.
2004: We are one of three Socially Responsible Business Award winners. The 10th Annual awards were presented in conjunction with Natural Products Expo East in Washington, DC. See our What's New page for a press release.

Innovations

Sea Seasonings shakers were our first venture into ready-to-use products featuring ground sea vegetables offered plain or blended with spices and herbs.
Sea Chips are America's first corn tortilla chips seasoned with sea vegetables - no salt added!
Kelp Krunch snack bars are the first foray into sea vegetables as fun food. Kids love them - which is a good sign!

Mission Statement
Our mission is twofold: to provide high quality North American sea vegetables as user-friendly foods, supported by reliable information; and to build respectful, long-term relationships with our customers, suppliers, employees and the environment.

Principles
To the best of our individual and collective abilities, we pursue our mission with honesty, accountability, patience and care.

Practices
We understand that these gifts from the sea come with the responsibility to maintain sustainable practices in harvesting, processing and merchandising - leaving more than we harvest, producing more than we consume, and giving back more than we take.

Intentions
With our enthusiasm, we encourage the rediscovery of this ancient food source from the sea. With our personal and traditional knowledge, we share what we have learned from our native sea vegetables and from people worldwide who have used them for centuries. With our curiosity, we learn from our customers what they already know or need to know. And with our ingenuity and respect, we intend to thrive into the 21st century.

Maine Coast Sea Vegetables
info@seaveg.com