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Ray,

Thanks for asking.

Most of what we know about growing goji is at

http://forgojiberries.com/HowToGrowGojiBerries.php3

Raw goji berries should spout just fine if you cover a berry with just a bit of soil. Ok to start them indoors where it is warm. Thin them once the shoots come up.

- Mike and Rachel

On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 3:01 AM, Ray Morgan wrote:

> Hi, I sent a message to you which was not completed. (my mistake). I would > like to know how to start growing Goji berries from seed. I have > Multi-purpose and Ericaceous compost.I would like to know how to start my > seeds which at the moment are dry and where to store them until shoots > appear. I live in Aberdeen, Scotland where the weather is always > unpredictable. > Please advise. > With Thanks, Ray > > > > _______________________________ > The above message was sent when you were offline, via your LivePerson > account. > > Message sent from IP: 92.24.148.85 >

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Hi Mike,

They guy who came up with the “bugs in the berries” line is a marketing genius. He preys on uninformed fears.

However, berries that are dried outside are dried under screens. Bugs can’t get to the berries. Furthermore, we’ve NEVER found a bug in our berries.

It is a good idea to boil non-organic berries. However, you can eat organic berries straight from the bag.

Goji Berries keep for over 5 years if stored in a cool dry place. “Freshness” is not something that is important with dried fruits. This is the whole point in drying fruit – so that it keeps forever. A one and a three year old berry from the same planation will usually taste the same and have the same nutritional value – the berries do not become rancid or anything like that.

We usually get our berries from the previous year’s harvest.

We have a lot of repeat customers. I hope you’ll like our berries and will join their ranks.

- Mike

On Mon, Apr 19, 2010 at 4:55 PM, Mike wrote:

> I just bought 5 lbs of your wolfberries because it seemed like a good place > to buy. Now I’m reading about goji berries that are dried outdoors having > problems with bug infestations. Is this a problem with your berries? Will I > find any bugs in these berries? Should I boil them before eating them? Also > is there any info you can give me on how fresh these berries are? I’d like > to find a place where I can buy all my Goji Berries. If these are as good as > they sound then I’ll be a regular customer. Thanks -Mike J > > > > _______________________________ > The above message was sent when you were offline, via your LivePerson > account. > > Message sent from IP: 98.211.222.28 >

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Dear Janice,

Wow.

It’s great to know that Goji works better then Meds. After all, Goji heals and nourishes, which meds do not.

- Mike

P.S. Have you looked into taking 5-HTP or Tryptophan in the evening?

On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 11:09 AM, Janice Samuelson wrote:

> I just have to let you know I went for a week without my goji berries > because of being financially tight. Well I won’t do that again! I was > diagnoised with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder about seven years ago and > shortly after depression because of the extreme changes related to the PTSD. > For several years I took anti-depressants just to function. I stopped > taking those in September because my insurance would no longer cover them. > Around that time I started taking goji berries for my diabetes to help with > stablizing my blood sugar which works great by the way. > > Back to my week without goji berries, I found myself sad and crying for no > reason, signs of depression again which I had not been feeling at all until > I went off the goji berries. I am back on the goji berries and slowly > feeling better again and will not go with out them ever again! I tend to > take 1/4 to 1/3 cup a day. > > > >

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Hi Katherine,

I hope the following answer does not tell you more then you want to know.

Goji Berries are like any other food – sometimes there is more available then other times. As a result – the price varies.

Currently, there is a problem getting Goji berries into the USA. As a result, there is a Goji berry shortage.

I suspect that our prices have been lower then anybody elses (for the same quality) for the last few weeks because everyone else has already raised their prices as they got new stock in.

Usually, we like to give advance warning before a price increase, but the last of our stock went so quickly that we did not have time to email out such a notice.

We got new stock in yesterday at 3PM, so we had to raise our prices – or go out of business. Since we have 1000’s of loyal happy costumers, it makes sense to raise prices so that we can continue to serve everyone.

We don’t know how long this Goji berry shortage will continue since it is politically motivated. However, prices may go up even further if the USA and China don’t start playing nice with each other.

- Mike

On Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 7:59 AM, Katherine England wrote:

> Hi Mike, > > Just received our goji order. I went to show your website to my girlfriend > and noticed the price went up from $64 to $70 for the 5lb. bulk bag. Why > did the price increase? > > Thanks, > > Katherine > >

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Dear Maddelena,

It’s good to ask around and get facts.

We have not seen goji berries that might have red dye on them – however, we only deal in organic goji berries. I suspect that you you see goji berries with a unnatural color then you might want to not buy those.

However, pesticide residues are a BIG problem. Yes, non-organic goji berries can have have residual amounts of pesticides. However, sometimes even organic goji berries can have extremely small amounts of pesticides in them because the fields that the organic goji berries are grown in share the same planet with the fields that use pesticides. In other words, there is a small chance that organic goji berries can become contaminated at very low levels because pesticides spread EVERYWHERE.

By the way, our ORGANIC goji berries come from remote , less polluted parts of China also. Why? China is the only place in the world where goji berries are grown commercially. However they are tested here in the USA for pesticide residues. We reject them if there are any pesticide residues.

It’s my opinion that if you are spending the money to do something good for your health – like eating goji berries – then you should make sure they are as pure as possible.

- Mike

On Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 7:35 AM, maddalena wrote:

> hi, i have been eating goji berries for a couple of years now but i am > somewhat concerned of what i heard on the web. is it true that the goji > berries can possibly have a red dye in it that causes cancer, or maybe > pesticides also? my gojis came right from china and i don’t they are as > strict as the usa. thanks > > > > _______________________________ > The above message was sent when you were offline, via your LivePerson site. > > Message sent from IP: 99.8.149.112 >

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Somebody just called up and asked about how much a cup of Goji Berries weights.

A measuring cup of Goji Berries weights about 4 ounces

A small handful of Goji Berries weights about an ounce

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Hi Pete,

Goji berries might make you healthier. It is up to your body to decide how to express this improved health. You’ll feel better, and you might even look better. People will notice that.

Will Goji improve your hair? Sorry, I don’t know.

- Mike

On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 9:23 PM, pete wrote:

> Hi. I would like to know if consuming dried goji berries can help restore > gray hair to its natural color. Also, I am wondering if consuming goji > berries can help thicken hair and even help to grow new hair in problem > spots (frontal, crown). Thank you for your time. > > > > _______________________________ > The above message was sent when you were offline, via your LivePerson site. > > Message sent from IP: 71.199.0.218 >

The background:  I sent out an email, reprinted at the bottom of this post.  My emails usually get some responses.  This is great, because it means people are thinking.  My reply suggests that when you’re in the middle of an information war, you have to do a lot of digging to get to the truth of a matter.

---

Hi Health Truth Seeker,

Thanks for responding.

Welcome to the world of health controversy.

Things are not always as simple as they seem.

For example, perhaps quackwatch is not what it seems. http://www.thenhf.com/newsflash_02.htm I don’t know if the above is true. But I can tell you that I’ve seen with my own eyes that there is a “info-war” going on in the health field.

It is true that no one person or organization can have the monopoly on true. Our universe is way more intricate and wonderful then any of us can understand, and that includes Dr. Mercola and the folks at quackwatch.

- Mike and Rachel

---

On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 9:32 AM, Rachel Trueblood wrote:

I saw the following on Mercola.com recently.  Yes, it’s a  “back to basics” article, but how many of these happiness choices do you make consistently?
Americans spend billions every year on a dizzying array of health schemes. But some of the best approaches to health care are cheap and within your grasp, if only you can find the will to make some lifestyle changes.

1. Experience the benefits of sex

Sex has many apparent health benefits. Studies suggest sex can boost your immune system and reduce stress.

2. Keep your teeth clean

Diabetes, low birth weight babies and heart disease have all been linked to gum and bone disease in your mouth. Even heart attacks have been linked to bad dental hygiene.

3. Use the sun

A little sunshine is good for your mood and allows your body to produce necessary vitamin D, which is lacking in some 70 percent of American kids these days.

4. Drink less

After years of hearing that moderate drinking is good for your health, a study in November, 2009 found that having a drink or two each day might be something that healthy people do, rather than the drinks being the cause of their good health. And if you’re having more than a couple drinks a day, then you’re at higher risk for liver damage and diabetes.

5. Wash your hands

Hand washing remains the best prevention against the flu and many other diseases.

6. Get some rest

Serious lack of sleep — less than six or seven hours a night — has been associated with increased risks of high blood pressure, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and cancer. Lack of sleep can also contribute to auto accidents and on-the-job injuries.

7. Stop smoking

About half of all smokers die from smoking, and of these, about half die around age 50 or sooner.

8. Don’t stress

Stress kills. It causes deterioration in everything from your gums to yourheart and can make you more susceptible to a range of ills, from colds to cancer.

9. Exercise

Over and over, studies find a host of exercise benefits, not just for your body: It can raise kids’ academic performance and stimulate adult brains. Exercise makes bones stronger and alleviates many types of chronic pain. Regular exercise has even been associated with a lower risk of cancer.

10. Eat better

Choose real food instead of sugar laced with traces of real food. Cook at home rather than eating fast food, and use spices, rather than gobs and gobs of oil or sugar, to spice up your meals.

---

… and a final thought: The reason I call my company “The Happy Fruit” is because Goji berries make
you happy. Take your pick – you can get your Goji fix by eating the berries, drinking the juice, or even
in a convenient capsule  www.TheHappyFruit.com

To your health,
Rachel Thorogood
www.ForGojiBerries.com
303-642-0277

QUESTION:

Hi Rachel,

What do they use to prevent bugs from eating them before they are sent to the states. (While growing & drying). Since they fed melamine to their people and exported product especially milk and baby formula, I have a problem trusting China. Organic in China is not as trustworthy in my opinion.

Thank you,

KC

******

ANSWER: Hi KC,

Every country has some bad eggs.

I don’t find that ALL Chinese are corrupt. Many are wonderful people and do care about quality. Then it’s a matter of making sure that those are the ones you do business with. That is what I’ve done. I trust my goji berry suppliers implicitly to send me berries that have had no pesticides of any kind put on them.

If the berries are properly harvested and dried, then there is a minimal chance that bugs will get into them in the first place. This type of procedure is simply part of good organic farming practice. in the region where they’re grown, in the foothills of the Himalayas, there are very few pests to begin with.

You are welcome to return berries if you believe them to be contaminated.

To your health, Rachel 303-642-0277

QUESTION:

Where are your Goji berries grown?

ANSWER

99.9% of all Goji Berries are grown in China and Mongolia

This include our berries, and obviously, almost every other berry you find. Don’t be fooled by references to “Tibet” or “Himalayan” – that is simply a marketing term and means about as much as when a “Granny Smith” apple comes from a farm owned by Granny Smith.

Or berries come from the Ningxia province of China. We do make sure that our farms are not near any major sources of pollution.

QUESTION:

> I’m still looking for a source for freeze dried goji powder. used to get it > from young living. I tried nuts on line last,it was terrible I think they > scorched it. please reply > >

ANSWER:
Hi Michael,

You have a choice:

http://crystallinegoji.com/

or

if you prefer capsules (it’s more expensive too) you can also get it at

http://gojiexperience.com

Neither site actually says they are freeze dried, because this is a phase that confuses as many people as it helps. However, I spent 1 1/2 years tracking down these sources for freeze dried Goji.

Let me know if that helps. Or, if you have more questions, you can talk to Rachel at 303-642-0277. By the way, she does not believe in being a pushy salesperson, because we have 1000’s of loyal customers without having to resort to such tactics.

- Mike

QUESTION:

> I understand there are different grades of gojis. Are your gojis “premium” > or “supreme” grade, or are they of a lower grade? I didn’t notice any > specific reference to “premium” gojis on your site, although I thought I had > seen that statement when I looked a few weeks ago. I’m eager to place an > order, but would like to hear your response first. > Thanks, > Jan > >

ANSWER:

There are four sizes of goji berries. Roughly, they equate to small, medium, large and extra large. Premium (also known as jumbo) and supreme are size measurements. Different sellers use these words with different meanings, from 20 mm to 25 mm per berry.

The size of the berries does not have anything to do with the nutritional value. We look for dark red berries because the dark red color means the berries are loaded with extra nutrients and antioxidants. When you get our berries you’ll notice the dark red color and extra fruitiness and flavor. They are the large (not extra large) berries.

Hope this answers your question

-Mike

Raeleen ASKS:

> Greetings! > One quick question: > As an agricultural import, are the berries irradiated?

ANSWER:
Raeleen,

Perhaps you know more then I do – is it now mandatory that ALL agricultural imports are irradiated?

I do know that all berries we carry sprout into wholesome little plants – so they have NOT lost their life force during their travels

- Mike

John ASKS:

> I like getting “bulk pricing” but if they spoil it doesn’t do me any good. > How long will they keep once opened from their single package and put in > individual, one-pound packages?

ANSWER:
Hi John,

Our berries are very dry. This is important for two reasons: 1) When dry enough, they will last more then 5 years – even after the bag is opened. Just reseal the included zip locked bag and keep in a cool, dark place. 2) Very dry berries mean you are buying less water then a moister berry. This means you get more for your money.

- Mike

*QUESTION:*

On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 12:18 PM, aIDA  wrote:

> For the first time in my life I ordered goji berries, and just ate a > couple, and thought I was being poisoned, and got very nervous. it was > bitter tasting, and left a medicine taste in my mouth. I’m not sure if its > supposed to taste this way of if I got a rotten bag of something. please > help!! I bought this thinking It would help me achieve good health. > something I need real bad. > >

*ANSWER:* HI Aida,

Goji berries are not very sweet and have a bitter after taste. For some reason, if you eat a small hand full at a time, the taste seems to even out and become more pleasant.

Did you get the berries from us? We eat our own berries and are doing quite well, thank you.

But let’s be realistic. Goji berries are not medicine, even if the DO taste a bit like medicine. They are, however, awesome nutrition. It takes years of not being as mindful of what we eat as we should be before we get sick.

Aside: actually, medicines have a very poor track record of making you healthier.

No food, no matter what the claims, will reverse that overnight. It takes weeks and months for the body to rebuild itself from a weakened state.

We find our loyal customers go through a pound or two in a month.

Best of luck in healing yourself.

- Mike and Rachel

Question:

QUESTION:

On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 8:57 PM, Lisa wrote:

> Hi! I wanted to get your take on the acai berry in comparison to the > goji….I have been reading so much and it seems that writers are stating > the acai is a more nutrient dense fruit. Any info or website direction > would be great. Thanks! Blessings in Health!

ANSWER:

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your questions.

We’ve been getting the Acai vs Goji question a lot lately. This could be because the Acai marketing hype engine has been screaming along for over a year now. The situation has gotten so out of hand that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has passed along some new rulings about what is appropriate or not when it comes to making claims on the internet.

Don’t get me wrong, Acai fruit is also a rightful super fruit.

But, let’s put this in perspective.

Which is a “better” food? Tomatoes or Potatos? Apples or Oranges? Acai or Goji?

Humans are not designed to just eat one food all the time, that’s why we like variety.

What if your “super food” budget only has room for Acai or Goji?

Much of what we know about how good Goji is comes from wise men experimenting on themselves throughout the eons and reporting that Goji has a very positive effect on their bodies.

Similarly, there is a wonderful legend about how Acai saved an Amazonian tribe from starvation.

Never before in history have we been blessed with the wide variety of choices we have today in our worldwide marketplace.

So, the responsibility falls to you to do your own test. Give each super food a fair trial by trying it on an empty stomach and logging the result. It’s quite possible that you will respond better to one or the other. Furthermore, someone else may have the opposite result because they are also a genetically unique individual.

Let me know what you discover for yourself.

- Rachel

P.S. Because both Acai and Goji are terrific super foods, we carry both of them in capsules.

P.P.S. We also sell goji berries.

QUESTION:

On Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 2:15 PM, Christopher wrote:

> What are the yellow spots forming on my dried goji berries?

ANSWER:

Hi Christopher,

My guess is that some of the Goji Berries shattered during shipping. The berries are very dry because this helps preserver their nutritional value.

When the berries shatter, it releases the seeds inside the berry. The seed are yellow.

These seeds can move around and therefore look like they are forming on the berries.

The yellow seeds in your bag do not effect the taste, or purity or nutritional value of your berries.

You’re just seeing the raw, dry nature of the berries.

- Mike

QUESTION:

> Thanks for your response > I don’t know who informed you that kosher means a blessing bestowed on a > place it have nothing at all to do with blessing! It is a certification by > rabbis that the facility and products used in the process do not contain any > ingredients that do not fit the dietary laws that were given to Jews.A > simple coating from gelatin or any animal additive from a non kosher animal > just to make it not stick to a surface would make it non-kosher. This is why > a fruit store does not need certification because there is no facility and > no ingredients that can possibly render it unfit. Would it be possible to > detail the complete process of the goji berry production from beginning to > end? >

ANSWER:

My understanding is that organic goji berries are dried right by the field where they are picked. Once they are dry, they are packed in plastic bags. Bags are put in boxes that may weight 10 kgs to 25 kgs. Some goji plantations will heat seal the bags, others will simply tie them shut.

The boxes of berries are transported to the coast by rail. There they are loaded into 40 foot shipping containers and shipped to ports on the east or west cost of the USA. They may be inspected before the berries are let through customs. From there, the are stored in warehouses until a supplier such as us get them shipped to us by truck. Usually, the importer also does a spot check to make sure that the berries truly test out as being organic. There is a long list of chemicals that must be absent from the goji berries for them to be classified as organic. However, this testing simply supports the claim that the berries were farmed using organic cultivation practices.

Once we get our shipment of large boxes, we break the large boxes apart into our standard sizes of 8 oz, 5 lbs and 10 lbs. Currently, the 10 lb size are the same heat sealed bags direct from the Chinese highlands (there is little pollution up there yet.) The sizes we offer may change when we get berries from a different planation, or we find the customer preferences have changed. Note that the only process steps are drying, bagging, boxing, shipping and re-bagging. Nothing is added to the Goji Berries and the only thing removed is water by a low temperature sun drying process. Drying is done under netting so that there is minimal danger of contamination. Organic goji berries are considered a raw food since the berries are never heated above 104 Fahrenheit

QUESTION:

On Tue, Dec 8, 2009 at 2:57 PM, bruce wrote:

> How can u sell these so cheaply? I paid $30 per 18 oz. bag from the Tibetan > Gogi Berry Co. last month. Can your berries really be as good?? > >

Rachel’s ANSWER

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for asking.

Maybe I need to raise my prices

The difference is the fancy packaging that the Tibetan Goji Berry Company has. My berries are bulk packed, which gives you a huge savings. I also work hard to keep all my other costs low too.

Are they any good? I have a full money back guarantee, and I can’t remember when someone last returned some berries because they don’t like the taste.

Try some yourself and let me know what you think.

- Rachel

P.S. Don’t forget about the free shipping and bonus audio book.

QUESTION: On Tue, Dec 8, 2009 at 1:08 PM, pinny wrote: Is your berries certified kosher? If not do you plan on getting certification? Are there any additives at all besides from goji berries that can possibly make it non kosher or would this be the equivalent of buying fruit from a fruit store that would not need certification being that there is nothing added and is as grown? Thank you

ANSWER:

Hi Pinny,

Thanks for asking

Our Goji Berries have nothing added. They are dried shortly after they are harvested right by the field they came from. As best as I can tell, the field and attached drying area is not certified Kosher.

We have looked into Kosher certification. It is basically a blessing bestowed on a place.

We decided to keep our price to a minimum by not paying a considerable amount for this service.

- Rachel