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The
algae is selectively harvested from Upper Klamath Lake
in Southern Oregon, the only place this blue green algae grows in
harvestable quantities. This lake is truly a natural phenomenon, as Crater Lake
and its tributaries provide it with an amazing array of nutrients. Between
May and November, harvesting of the algae takes place
in the deepest, freshest, and cleanest section of the lake known as eagle ridge.
This
is the only harvester with on board refrigeration which
preserves the algae's nutrients and ensures the highest product quality
and freshness. The harvesting barge also has the
ability to vary its depth of harvest below the water's surface allowing the best possible method of
uptake. This harvester is staffed with up to seven personnel
who are very skilled in the actual harvesting
and handling of the algae. The four harvesting Captains
are trained in quality assurance and bring over 20 years
of experience to the task. The on board lab and microscope allow them to select from the best
of the algae blooms. |
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This is a picture of Blue
Green Algae
in its full blooming stage. |
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The hand in
this pictures helps you get an idea of the thickness of the
Blue Green Algae in full bloom.
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Another shot of the Blue Green
Algae in full bloom and some on my hand. |
| Eagle Ridge,
Upper Klamath Lake.
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Eagle Ridge Photo Two,
Upper Klamath Lake. |
A.F.A.
Inc., harvester of Klamath Blue Green Algae, is the largest harvesting and processing facility for blue green algae on Upper Klamath Lake.
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The
4000 sq. ft. harvester is a one of a kind technical masterpiece seated on a floating barge. It allows selective harvesting of the algae at the peak of its bloom. |
Selective Harvesting on Eagle Ridge
The algae
is received on shore after having been chilled on the harvester. The cold algae is then transferred to a refrigerated stir tank to allow further cooling. It is then put through the processing
station which removes possible impurities such as microcystis and daphnia while protecting the integrity of the algae. Next, mechanical
de-watering, another purification process unique to our company,
takes place. It is then frozen on-site in our blast freezers
to -40ºF.
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Crater Lake, located just north of Upper Klamath Lake, is the
clearest lake in North America and also the deepest. The volcanic eruption about 7,000 years ago, that created Crater Lake, is
estimated to be 100 times greater than any in the 20th century.
A mineral rich sediment of 30 to 40 feet thick is under Upper
Klamath Lake. This is one of the primary ingredients of the
Aphanizomenon Phenomenon.
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Microscopic photos courtesy of University of Oregon at Corvallis
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photo of a fresh
AFA cell with walls intact. |
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Microscopic
photo of a frozen
AFA cell with a broken cell wall. |
With
the only on board refrigeration system and the only on-site
freezers, you can be assured
that Klamath Blue Green's algae will have retained the highest
nutrient value possible. We
use
state of the art freeze drying technology for the final preservation
of the product. Although it is
a more costly process, freeze drying produces a superior product
to that of spray drying.
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Particle
grouping of a competitor's spray
dried algae with daphnia parts.
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Cell
grouping of a freeze dried
Klamath Blue Green Inc algae. |
As the figures above show the processing of AFA Inc./ Klamath
Blue Green™ Algae, Inc. has resulted in the presence of no daphnia, a microscopic
crustacean that lives in the algae. In 100% of all algae tested in 1998 the health standards set
by the Oregon Department of Agriculture were met and regularly exceeded. The processing
station is also randomly checked by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for cleanliness
and compliance with federal standards. We have always met and exceeded these
standards.Due
to these exacting standards for processing our algae, our processor,
AFA, Inc is the only algae processor to have earned Organic Certification from Oregon
Tilth status.
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On the harvester,
this jacketed, stainless steel refrigerated 3,000 gallon tank, stirs, textures, and chills the algae, right after it is harvested.
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Here our transport vessel is quickly
bringing the algae to our processing facility.
A.F.A. Inc. is truly leading the industry in product quality.
The staff is highly trained in processing the blue green algae
and always thinks of product quality and safety first.
When it comes to Klamath Blue Green
Algae, we do algae best! |
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