Healthy Sunflower Oil at the Maple Grove Farmers Market

This is the first year Tom and Jenni Smude, owners of Smude Enterprises, LLC have brought their sunflower oil to the . In the past two years they have participated in the St. Cloud, St. Joseph and Sartell Farmers Markets.

Tom Smude's aunt, Janel Lamp-Wiese, does sales and education for the company. Lamp-Wiese spoke with Patch about what makes Smude Sunflower Oil so special.

She will be serving vegetables sauteed in Smude High Oleic Sunflower Oil at the July 26 farmers market, as well as the croutons and popcorn she usually serves. Lavendar and Peppermint Sunflower Oil will also be available.

Maple Grove Patch: What products do you provide as a Maple Grove Farmers Market vendor?

Janel Lamp-Wiese: Smude Virgin Premium Cold Pressed Sunflower Oil made from High Oleic Non-GMO Sunflower Seeds that are raised, pressed and bottled in Morrison County, Pierz, MN. 

Patch: What made you want to be a vendor at the Maple Grove Farmers Market?

Lamp-Wiese: Various people, i.e. friends, family, and other vendors, brought to our attention the Maple Grove Market and thought our sunflower oil would be a nice addition to the products offered there. In researching the Maple Grove market, I liked the idea of the entertainment, chef demos, children's story time, etc. It sounded like a very friendly consumer oriented market, with lots of diversity.

We began pressing and bottling in January of 2010 locally in Pierz, MN. We got our four screw presses and filtering system from Germany. (Europe has had the High Oleic variety of sunflower seeds and oil for some time. When we began in 2010 there were only a few other companies doing this in the U.S.) 

It is unique compared to the linoleic and NuSun varieties. One tablespoon of Smude Virgin Premium Cold Pressed High Oleic Sunflower Oil has only one gram of saturated fat, over 82% monounsatured fat and 29% Vitamin E and a high smoke point of 375-380 degrees.     

We were told when we purchased our screw presses and filter system in Germany, if we filtered our high oleic sunflower oil to 1 micron, we could expect up to a 5 year shelf life. (We won't claim 5 years since we have not proven that as of yet, but so far we have over a 2 year shelf life.) 

In its raw state it has a lightly nutty flavor, but when heated (i.e. baking, sautéing , pan frying, deep frying, popping popcorn) it has an amazing buttery flavor. With the amazing health benefits and taste we realized we had a lot of education to do. We also realized the importance of being able to taste the oil or foods made with our oil as well. Farmers Markets just seemed a great way to be able to do this.

We have also found the Living Green Expo, health fairs, some craft fairs and sports events to be other great places to educate and taste (as well as sell) our oil. We have many chefs and restaurants that also cook with our oil. 

Yes, we are “green”. The leftover seed is high protein meal that we feed to our all natural black angus; the leftover shells are purchased by local chicken growers for bedding, and the plant is put back into the ground.

This oil is so versatile from dipping oil to salad dressings to baking or sautéing to pan frying and deep frying; amazing for fish, chicken and vegetables. When popcorn is popped in it, and sprinkled with just a bit of salt, you will be amazed at the buttery flavor without the saturated fat and cholesterol of butter.

Patch: What is your price range for your products?

Lamp-Wiese: From $7 for our 8 oz. Glass bottle up to $48 for our 2-1/2 gallon jug. We also have 16 oz., half gallons, and gallons.