GENERAL: What? Why? How? Where?
ORDERING SEA VEGGIES: How to Order? Shipping & Return Information? Ordering from outside USA?
What are Sea Vegetables?
Sea vegetables are wild ocean plants, or marine algae, enjoyed daily as staple and healing foods in many coastal parts of the world. Small amounts of sea veggies add a rich flavor and enhance the nutritional value of most dishes. Popular American sea vegetables are Dulse, Kelp, Alaria, Laver, from the east coast, and Sea Palm from the west coast. Asian varieties include Nori, Hiziki, Arame, Kombu and Wakame. We provide Dulse, Kelp, Alaria, Laver, Nori, Sea Lettuce, and Bladderwrack.
Why should I eat sea vegetables? How are they good for me?
Sea vegetables are rich in minerals and trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, iodine, manganese, chromium and more, at levels much greater than those found in land vegetables. Sea veggies also provide vitamins, fiber, enzymes, and high quality protein. Marine phytochemicals found only in sea vegetables have been shown to absorb and eliminate radioactive elements and heavy metal contaminants from our bodies. Other recent research demonstrates the inhibition of tumor formation, reduction of cholesterol, and anti-viral properties of sea vegetables.
How do I include sea vegetables in my diet - is it difficult?
It's really quite convenient. Simply add small amounts of cut, bite sized pieces to your favorite soups, salads, sandwiches and stir-fries. Each Maine Coast package comes with instructions and recipe suggestions. (Visit our Recipes section).
Sea vegetables' strong taste and odor surprise some people. Remember that dried sea vegetables are a highly vital wild food and provide highly concentrated nutrition - a little goes a long way, and most easy Maine Coast recipes use less than one quarter ounce per serving! Sea vegetables are sometimes rinsed or soaked in fresh water before use, but often this is unnecessary. Dulse, for instance, is eaten right out of the bag as a healthy, "salty" snack. We suggest eating a variety of sea vegetables for maximum nutrition and taste.
To get started cooking with Maine Coast sea veggies go to the Recipes section and read Basic Prep section for each sea veggie.
Where and how does Maine Coast harvest sea vegetables?
We sustainably harvest native sea vegetables locally from the clear, cold northern Gulf of Maine waters. Experienced harvesters carefully hand gather the sea vegetables from their pristine beds at the peak of nutrition. They are then sun-dried or low temperature air-dried, graded for quality, and monitored for possible herbicide, pesticide, heavy metal, and bacteriological contamination. This is all part of the organic certification process following OCIA Standards for harvesting and handling wild sea vegetables. For more information on the harvest, see the Harvest FAQ's, or click on The Harvest.
How do I order Maine Coast Sea Veggies?
Ordering options are:
1. Online Store
2. e-mail your order directly to us info@seaveg.com
3. call 207-565-2907
4. fax 207-565-2144
5. snailmail to:
Maine Coast Sea Vegetables
3 Georges Pond Rd
Franklin, ME 04634
Payment Methods Accepted: Visa, MasterCard, personal or bank check, money order, traveler's check, or COD. The COD charge is $9.00.
What about shipping and returns?
Please click on Order, Shipping, and Return Information
How do I order from a country other than the USA?
Please click on Ordering Information for Outside the Continental U.S. which has some background on foreign orders. Basically, in addition to the cost of the product we will charge a $10.00 fee plus the actual cost of shipping. Shipping is via United States Postal Service Parcel Post, Air or Surface. Surface mail is less expensive but takes longer, up to 4 weeks, but this does not harm the product. Shipping cost becomes less per pound as your order size increases, so it pays to order more! We only accept MasterCard and Visa for foreign orders.
