People have been eating pomegranate seeds for thousands of years for their tasty flavor and their high levels of antioxidants and nutrients, including phytonutrients.
Those benefits are why our certified organic Nutrilite farm in El Petacal, Mexico, dedicates 2.5 acres to growing pomegranates used to make ingredients for Nutrilite supplements and Artistry skin care products.*
Our farm team doesn’t get to enjoy snacking on any seeds, however, because we never let the crop get ripe. We harvest the fruit when it is still young and small. If you crack it open, instead of the vibrant, blood-red seeds filled with sweetness, you’ll find a pale-yellow interior that is sour and tart.
Harvesting nutrients
Why do we harvest so early? Because our researchers found that’s when pomegranates have the highest levels of those powerful antioxidants. They may not taste good, but those antioxidants provide the key benefits our products need.
In order to capture the fruit at its peak nutrient levels, we monitor the size of the fruit regularly, recording all the data along the way.
“We aim for between 30-50mm in diameter, or about the size of a golf ball or ping pong ball,” said Ana Chavez, who handles communications for Nutrilite Rancho El Petacal.
The fruit is also regularly tested for quality. “If the finished product doesn’t meet our standards of nutrient levels, it’s sent to the compost piles and recycled back into the soil,” Ana said.
Traceability: Documenting every step
We harvest the pomegranates on El Petacal twice a year and within hours they are washed, dried, quality tested and frozen to preserve their nutrients. Each of those steps is documented and recorded, too.
All that documentation also helps track the pomegranate from a finished product all the way back to the tree on which it was grown.
“It’s all part of our traceability process,” Ana said. “To help provide our products with pure, safe and effective ingredients.”
Once everything is tested, verified and documented, the pomegranate is destined for our manufacturing facilities.
How is pomegranate used?
Pomegranate is a key ingredient in our Nutrilite Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables supplement for kids and adults, where it combines with other nutrients to provide the phytonutrient equivalent of 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables.
It’s also a powerhouse ingredient for our Artistry Skin Nutrition™ lotions and creams, where it helps protect your skin and delicate eye area from the damaging effects of various environmental pollutions. In addition, it helps keep skin soothed, calmed and strengthened to defend it against premature skin aging.
While the pomegranate trees produce a fruit that is used to make a key ingredient in Nutrilite and Artistry products, they also are a key part of our ecosystem on the farm.
They are a low maintenance and easy to take care of, receiving regular doses of compost and organic pest repellant. Their blossoms also attract bees that help pollinate all of our crops.
And because the farm is certified organic, the bees don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals. It’s a win-win all around! To learn more about our farms visit nutrilitetraceability.com.
* Unless stated on the product label, Nutrilite products and ingredients are not organic.
