 Our almonds are grown exclusively by California family farmers.
Meet the Men Who Grow Your Almonds
We began making almond butter over 25 years ago. At first our almond butter was roasted, but that has become a small part of what we do. Nowadays, our energy goes into making alive almond butter. We have developed, over the years, a proprietary process. We make it slowly, over several days. We slice, we do not grind. Furthermore, we make it frequently, in small batches so it's fresh and alive. Freedom Butter
Our almond butter is created in Berkeley, a wellspring of the human spirit. It has a rich tradition of Americans who dared to stand up and speak their truth. That's why we call it Freedom Butter. The Almond Butter of Wisdom
Here stood John Muir, naturalist and American spiritual master. He wrote: Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. He also said: The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.
He devoted his last days to fighting to save Hetch Hetchy, a valley comparable in magnificence to Yosemite. Despite his efforts, the forces of "progress" built a dam and flooded it! It remains under water to this day! 
John Muir
American Spiritual Master
The Almond Butter of Courage
Here stood Martin Luther King. In his last days, he came to the realization that the struggle was not only for social justice for his people but for all of humanity. He came to Berkeley and spoke on the campus, in front of Sproul Hall where the Free Speech Movement began. We all stand taller, knowing that a man of his stature lived among us. A most courageous American. 
Martin Luther King Jr
American Prophet
The Almond Butter of Genius
It was here in Berkeley that Steve Wozniak went to school. He attended the University of California where he studied electrical engineering. He had the good sense to drop out in 1975 and with Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer, Inc., a two-man operation. They designed the Apple I, the first personal computer in Jobs's bedroom and they built the prototype in the Jobs' garage. Jobs showed the machine to a local electronics equipment retailer, who ordered twenty-five. To start their company they sold their most valuable possessions. Jobs sold his Volkswagen van and Wozniak sold his Hewlett-Packard scientific calculator, which raised $1,300. With that capital base and credit from local electronics suppliers, they set up their first production line. In 1980, Apple went public and made Jobs and Wozniak millionaires. By inventing the personal computer, Steve Wozniak changed the world. Yet he was no mere technocrat. He wanted to contribute to the betterment of humankind. But I wanted to put chips together like an artist, better than anyone else could and in a way that would be the absolute most usable by humans. That was my goal when I built the first computer, the one that later became the Apple I. It was the first computer to use a keyboard so you could type onto it, and the first to use a screen you could look at. The idea of usable technology was something that was kind of born in my head as a kid when I had this fantasy that I could someday build machines people could use. And it happened! Just as Mozart channeled musical scores, writing them down in a final version without revising, editing or correcting, so too, Steve channeled the circuitry for the first PC. He was the conduit for a revolutionary invention that changed every aspect of our lives. 
Steve Wozniak with Steve Jobs, California 1975
American Genius
A Liberating Experience
We invite you then to open a jar and spread our almond butter on a slice of apple. Experience its texture and savor its aroma. Taste its whole bodied flavor. Maybe it will inspire you with the wisdom of John Muir, the courage of Martin Luther King Jr. and the genius of Steve Wozniak.
This is the ethos of Berkeley, 21 Nobel Prize winners have taught here. Here in the sixties, you spoke for brothers and sisters everywhere. When circumstances require, you will speak out again. Freedom Butter, in its aliveness, is an intimation of what you can be. 
Support California Family Farmers!
Dear brothers and sisters,
A sister writes, Thank you for supporting America. But I also have a question: I had to get some in-between-orders almonds at my local healthfood store. They had organic California almonds and organic Spanish almonds. The Spanish almonds were considerably less expensive, but looked dry, dull, flat and wrinkled. I recalled that while they had high taste when I'd had them before, they were dry and the taste also seemed like it could be borderline going to rancidity. And I thought they've come a long way and who knows how old they are/what they've been through? The California almonds were plump, smooth and bright - and they are grown right here in this country. So the decision wasn't difficult. Here's the question: are they better looking because of the processing or in spite of it?  We reply:- 90% of the world’s almonds are grown in California. This in a special region of the Central Valley. It was once an inland sea. It is bounded to the east by the towering Sierras and to the west by the coastal mountain range. Its rich,alluvial soil is wondrous fertile.This great plain is a sea of white in February when the almonds blossom. The orchards are irrigated by water from melting snow high in the Sierras. It is brought to them by a marvelous system of canals. California almonds are sweeter and their flavor is richer and more complex. Imported almond cannot compare. California almonds are simply the best.
We have decided to offer only California almonds and to use only California almonds in making almond butter. This means that the almonds we are offering have been processed in compliance with the USDA rule that went into effect in September 2007. They are exposed to steam for 8 seconds at 210- 215°F. Then for 44 seconds they are moved through a dehydrating tunnel to remove the moisture resulting from the steam..The circulating air temperature is 391- 395°F. During this process the almonds are 221-220°F on their surface and 110- 115°F at their core. At Living Tree Community Foods we feel it is essential to support family farmers. They are threatened as never before. As the Cornucopia Institute states in their press release of March 11,2009:-
Almond farmers and handlers engaged in the sale of raw and/or organic almonds have watched their operations disintegrate as a result of the treatment mandate. Consumers and retailers have turned to foreign suppliers, taking advantage of the regulatory loophole, for untreated raw and organic almonds.sic. To purchase almonds from Spain is to undermine what is alive and living in American agriculture. Consider, that a moment ago,the US led the world in the production of organic sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. Now virtually all are imported from China. We must not allow this to continue! American almond growers must never be outsourced!! In our view near here in a microcosm is a deep underlying cause of the financial crisis. For decades American industry has been increasingly "outsourced". What this means is that our industry and "know-how" has been given over to foreigners because they have been willing to work for less.It is in manufacturing and farming that new wealth is created, not in service industries, banking, insurance or any such thing.We were once the workshop of the world-now we've become a bubble economy. There was the dot.com bubble, the housing bubble and the stock market bubble. These are tragic attempts to keep the good times coming while the engine of accumulation has deteriorated. Think on it... the shoes you’re wearing, your laptop, your cell phone, even your underwear has been made in China! Is it any wonder then that we are waking up to the fact that we owe them more than $2 trillion! (Let us avoid the delusion that the crisis is due to "rapacious speculators" or "greedy banksters". This is equivalent to saying that "germs" cause disease rather than looking at the enervated condition of the body and the failure of the organs of elimination to function normally and eliminate waste. When the waste builds up, a crises arises!) At Living Tree Community we have been buying almonds from California family farmers since 1979. More than any documentation,more any certificate, established business relations, spanning decades, based upon a handshake,a smile and a look in the eye are surely the best assurance. We refuse to give this up. We refuse to deal with an anonymous, multinational conglomerate in Europe.We refuse to participate in "outsourcing" American almond growers! The city of Fresno in California is in the heart of the almond growing region. Unemployment there is a shocking 17%.(the national average is 8.5%). In the nearby town of Mendota, 35 miles to the west, nearly half the people there are unemployed! The situation conjures images from the Great Depression and the Grapes of Wrath with farm workers idled as farm land goes fallow. This is a national disgrace! We have got to support California family farmers!
We’ve all been hearing about the proliferation of big government. There are measures afoot to control the food supply and this on the pretext of “food safety”. Family farmers are threatened as never before. We have got to support them! Henceforth we shall offer only California almonds. We do so with joy and gladness. In our opinion,what we lose by 8 seconds of steam we more than gain by supporting California family farmers.
California farmers are leading the struggle to bring back your original almonds. In addition to the instituting of a lawsuit against the USDA "pasteurization" mandate, California farmers are actively pursuing another route, namely "non-thermal pasteurization" i.e. the use of ultra-violet light or ozone at room temperature to achieve the same result. To support them is to say yes! to what is decent and alive in America today!  Thomas Jefferson was right.In a letter to George Washington in 1787 he wrote, Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.
 Abraham Lincoln was right. In his inauguration address he said,Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world? By supporting California almond growers we are but realizing Lincoln’s vision of a “new birth of freedom”.
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With good wishes, Jesse Schwartz,Ph.D.
President
Living Tree Community Foods
Almonds are a premier source of vitamin E. One ounce of almonds (about 23 almonds) contains 35 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin E. Since the National Academy of Sciences increased the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for this important antioxidant in 2001, many Americans aren't getting enough of the essential nutrient.
The Almond Board of California continues to invest in research on the impact of antioxidants on chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, revealing some promising results.
In a Nutshell: Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that is essential to overall well-being. Almonds are one of the best food sources of alpha-tocopherol vitamin E, which the National Academies of Sciences has identified as the only type of vitamin E that makes itself available to cells in the circulatory system. According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (see chart below) almonds rank strongly among food containing alpha-tocopherol vitamin E, and one ounce of almonds contains 7.4 miligrams or 35 percent of the Daily Value of this nutrient.
Now according to the latest research, Vitamin E reduces the risk of lung cancer. Check out the full report here. Also recent research indicates that Vitamin E inhibits prostrate cancer.For more information please click here. They also have 20% of the USRDA of Vitamin B2, and 20% dietary fiber. Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats (the "good" kind) and are known to help lower cholesterol.
For Nut Benefits, More Is Better
Usula Grobler - Aspiring Athelete says:-
Living Tree Alive Organic Almond Butter is my stable diet. I use it in my protein smoothies, or with fruit, as a dessert. There are no preservatives; it tastes fresh, clean and alive! Braving the elements daily, I feel the energy from the Almond Butter keeps me going, and even helps keep me warm! I train for about 4 to 6 hours a day. Rowing is classed as a power endurance sport, so you need the strength of a sprinter, but the endurance of a marathon runner. You need to touch a little of everything, and keeping my nerves fresh to react to the intense technical aspects also means I need to be on top of what I eat. I'm training hard everyday because I have a dream to get to the London Olympic Games in 2012 representing the USA. And I know with the right support, like I'm getting from Living Tree, I'm able to go for gold! Thank you Jesse and all the family of the Living Tree for caring about us!
Yours Sincerely
Ursula Grobler
Without a doubt, the almond butter is your special special thing! It's so fresh and alive tasting. It's like nothing else I've ever had. It's like crunching into celery, but it's almond butter. It's so fresh and crisp. I can't go back to any other butter!
Ursula Grobler
Champion Athlete
(Ursula has just broken the World's Indoor Rowing Record) | | I came to live in Seattle, USA from Pretoria, RSA in 2003 after completing my BA degree in Information Design at the University of Pretoria. Rowing found me for the first time in Seattle as something to fill a few hours in the day and get required credits for my aupair program. A few years later I started working with Carlos Dinares. He taught me how to really row, and then trained me to pursue excellence. A journey I'm still far from finish, but this pursuit started taking effects not only in sports performance, but in nutritional performance as well. I started following the Paleo Diet and not long after, I started seeking out different food choices that supported sustainable growing practices and cared enough to do something about it. The Living Tree Community's whole approach to the environment made my soul better. Buying their nuts, dried fruits and butters made me know I'm doing something right. |
I just wanted to say that I recently made my first purchase from you, and it won't be my last! For one thing, the free raisins for being a nursing mother was really cool! And those raisins! They were the best I've ever had, bar none. Every other organic raisin I've had was "hard as a rock", to quote my 3 year old. These were just beyond words. And I always thought I didn't especially like raisins! One question I had is should I refrigerate these? I just put them in the cupboard, but I don't want them to spoil before we can eat them all.
Next, the almond butter! Oh my goodness. I had purchased organic almond butter once before from a health food store and didn't care for it enough to justify the high price again. When I saw your site I thought I'd give it one more chance. I'm so glad I did. I'll never buy almond butter from anywhere else again. I just made some "ants on a log" with the almond butter and raisins for a simple snack, and it tasted like it never had before, thanks to your products.
I wish I was more local to you, but I'll be buying from you in spite of the distance.
Thanks so much!
Nicole Graff Well, now you've spoiled me! I will never, never, ever buy tahina or almond butter at the store ever again. Period.
I can't wait to try your other products. Thank you for making delicious, healthy, fresh products! I won't be able to get my orders fast enough.
Paula Johnson
This was my third order, and everything so far has been amazing. Such sweet, perfect almonds, delicious pecans, the coconut dream is DELICIOUS, the wild rice, the tahini... It's all great, and I am so glad that you are out there. I live in New York, and as you can imagine, my lifestyle is full of pollution and stress. I love to imagine that out there somewhere is land that has not been ruined by the greed of man, but loved, nurtured, and respected, from which such wonderful food grows. Thank you for the raisins -- you have put raisins in all my orders so far, which are delicious and I've been giving them to friends.
All the best,
Boryana
New York City, New York Right now my children, boys of 7 and 9 years old, are chatting in the living room, eating apple slices with your almond butter. I offered to halve the apples, so they could put the almond butter in the middle, but they refused. Their reason: Slices can hold much more almond butter! They are laughing and certainly not missing chips, candy or the like from the days before rawdom Thank you for making such wonderful foods.
Joanna Tjoernelund
Denmark I just HAD to write and give you a PRAISE report. I've had extreme difficulty in getting cholesterol down because I'm hypothyroid which elevates cholesterol and I do not believe in statin drugs.Yesterday my doctor informed me that my cholesterol had dropped 100 points -- YES -- you read correctly -- one hundred points!!Needless to say - the doctor was blown away!
Your amazing organic raw almond nut butter accomplished this for me. PRAISE G-D!
What a delicious way to achieve these results!
Thanks and blessings,
Phyllis Patterson
Patrick Springs, Virginia Expect Miracles, It is Your Birth Right! Expect an Amazing Euphoric Feeling When Eating Living Tree Alive Almond Butter. I have been experimenting with raw foods from online vendors and I have found that the Living Tree Community has by the far the best tasting alive almond butter. I use the almond butter for a variety of my recipes and I am completely satisfied. Living Tree Community gets an A+ for customer Service.
Sherri Tutkus RN, BSN, NAAC
Boston, Massachusetts I just wanted to write a love letter to say how much we LOVE your Organic Raw Almond Butter!!!! I have eaten tons of different almond and nut butters and even made some "fresh" but this tastes like something completely different! This tastes like almonds and MAGIC!
I am on my second jar and am so glad I found it at my local health food store in Morro Bay, Sunshine Foods. I am telling everyone about it, including my homeopath practitioner. I give out taste tests and may give them as gifts for the holidaze.
Thank you for making such a wonderful food and I hope, hope, hope that the almond pasteurization order will be cancelled.
Thank you!
Teresa and Tim and Daphne (4yrs old!)
Los Osos, California Good morning,
Several days ago I received all the items I purchased from your community. I would just like to tell you that your cashew butter and almond butter are the best nut butters in the world. I don't want to sound as if I am over exaggerating, but by far they are the best I have ever tasted. Please keep up the great work. I will definitely return as a customer in the future. It has such a delicate taste, absolutely wonderful. I will even try the almond milk recipe you have on the glass.
P.S. Your cashews, pistachios and almonds are great as well.
Thank you again for your delivery and sound packaging.
Sincerely,
Patrick Breuer I just received my order. I just want to say Wow! I've been getting cashew butter and almond butter for a long time from another company and I've never tasted anything as good as what arrived in the mail. Thank you so much. There's a world of difference.
Blessings,
Barbara Henrioulle
Nevada City, California I've been searching for over a year for some almond butter that is free of peanuts and I am so happy to have found your product... I am allergic to peanuts and was on the verge of purchasing my own almond butter machine because of the traces of peanuts found in most all almond butters. I can't say thank you enough, you have made my month and your product is well worth the cost!
Best Regards,
Monica Mallet I am entirely "great" full for your products. From the Organic Black Sesame Pesto to the Organic Raw Almond Butter. Even before these amazing foods reach my mouth, I feel the vibration of their goodness. I would particularly like to comment on the Pesto as every time I have some, whether spread on a chard leaf or celery stick, my body, mind and soul immediately feel a sense of inner peace, harmony and genuine, genuine care of all that I nurture myself with... a true testament to the love and care that go into each and every jar of your gracious gifts.
Thank you for what you do for our planet.
Warmest regards,
Corinne Johnson
Calgary, Alberta Canada I just wanted to say that I received my first order from you this afternoon, and your almond butter is by far the best almond butter I have ever had. It has a sweetness to it that I have never experienced in any other almond butter, even those that I have made myself, which makes me think that the difference is, obviously, your almonds. Also, thank you so much for bonus bag of almonds -- that extra touch was very special and generous. Thank you for making food that is full of naturally delicious good taste and integrity. I will definitely be ordering from you again in the near future. Thanks!
Laura Storz
Chicago, IL Your wonderful products tempted me to one purchase. Then another. Now I cannot bear the thought of a day without at least a teaspoon of your Alive Olive Oil and a tablespoon of your Alive Almond Butter! I think the Alive Almond Butter greatly assisted my recovery from four and half straight hours of snow shoveling. Now I'm ordering other products. I need a higher paying job to support my growing Living Tree Community Foods habit!
Please keep providing the wonderful foods and educational services you already provide.
Sincerely,
Rachel Dowty
Troy, New York After placing my first order 10 days ago, and eating your food, I'm ecstatic that I found you. I've been vegan for 10 years, and your products are simply the best I've had so far. Thanks for putting so much love in your food. I can taste it!!
Andrew Wasserman
Schooleys Mountain
New Jersey Wow!! Just wanted to let you know how much I love your almond butter and almonds. I never knew almonds could taste so delicious. I've never tasted anything else like it. When I tried your almonds I got quite emotional like I was going to cry. I know that sounds weird but I felt so honored to experience such aliveness from your products. Can't wait to try your olive oil and olives.
Thank you so much for what you do.
Tyra McMahon
Vernon, B.C. Canada I have never seen an online store so dedicated to communicating with customers in a friendly, warm way! Your emails are sweeter than some I receive from acquaintances - no kidding! Knowing the deep caring, love, and humanity that goes into each food somehow makes me feel even better about eating them. I can feel the vitality in them. And with the smiling face on the labels, I always feel cheerier and happier. I told my husband the other day that I cannot imagine going back to faceless jars of nut butters or honeys from other places. Living Tree is the best! Thank you also for the almonds included with my order - what a sweet and thoughtful touch!
Karrie Higgins
Portland, Oregan I just wanted to tell you that I love the spirit of your company as well as your products I had the great pleasure to taste so far. We are not used to almond butter in Luxembourg but I didn't need any time to get used to it...I loved it immediately. I'm sure that it's not only the products but the love that has flown in them through the people doing their daily work in respect and love for mother nature and all her children. I shed some tears when I read that you sent a gift package to one of your customers who wasn't financially able to buy the products she wanted. It makes my heart sing when I hear about things like that. Thank you from all my heart and never give up this way of being.
Love,
Gerda
by the way, I'm 67 and I like the expression of "glorious elder."
I Am a new customer. I have just tried your Almond Butter and must say it is the bestI have ever tasted. I have been buying almond butter for many years, but I have to say yours is SOOO fresh and full of real almond flavor and it tastes alive! . I am looking forward to trying other products I ordered.
Thank you,
Regina Laporte
New Hartford, New York
Dear Living Tree Community Foods,
I recently recieved a jar of your Almond Butter. It reminded me of the butter I could find many years ago. I have been turned off to Almond Butter the last few years because it didn't taste right. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I knew something was different. I bought every brand at the health food stores and it didn't matter, they were all off.
The store people didn't know what I was talking about when I told them the butter didn't taste right. I am so happy to have found your product.
Thank you,
Michael Boruki
Grafton, Wisconsin
Thank you so much for your service. Never had I dreamed that I would find such energetically alive food, and never would I have believed that so many wonderful offerings would be in one place. I would feed the world with your food if I could and thank you for trying:). For now I am ecstatic and beyond pleased to be able to give this glimpse of peace and truth to all we can. Thank you for providing me the opportunity I needed to give so wholly and with such passion. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Courtney Sweeten
Reston ,Virginia
I just LOVE your Almond butter. I had to post on Twitter and will tell everyone I know!
Thank you for having such an awesome raw product for such a reasonable price.
Vicki Overton
Mesa
Arizonia
Dear Living Tree,
in a sea of chaos, you maintain sanity and harmony. Thank you for all that you are,
all that you uphold. We are indebted to companies like yours. Just viewing your
website makes me feel a thousand times better. Nuts are gifts from nature, healthy
natural ecosystems our salvation. Paradise is here and now, thanks to you!
blessings ,
Kristin, on the West Coast of Canada
I contacted Living Tree Community for some samples of their products because I have seen so many wonderful products that they have and heard that they are truly wonderful...Yesterday when I got home I got a package. When I opened the package I saw that I had gotten 1 jar of raw almond butter, one jar of raw cashew butter and a jar of Tahini. I freaked!!! I opened up the jar of raw cashew butter and I wont lie....I dipped my finger right in...WOW. I couldn't believe this. Now I will say this, I have tried cashew butter from another company and I didn't like it...It didn't taste at all like cashews. When I tasted this one though it was like getting a hand full of cashews and chewing them right up. You know what I like most about this butter??? There was only one ingredient. JUST ONE. CASHEWS. No oil, nothing. I smiled and kept eating it. Then I had to say to myself "Heather, you have almond butter and these cals will add up fast!"
Heather Heyn
Athens,GA Organiz and Kosher Certified.
This product is not intended
to treat, cure or diagnose any illness or disease.
Order Living Tree, Alive, Organic Almond Butter 8oz |
