When we founded Barkwheats in 2008, we wanted to go a step beyond grain-free and nutritious treats for your dog.  We wanted to make sure that all the ingredients had truly beneficial properties,and that we could personally meet all the people who produced each ingredient.  These principals have driven Barkwheats to become an innovative business recognized throughout the country for these practices.  What this means for you is that you can rest assured that you are getting the healthiest and safest treat for your dog. View great photos of our ingredients and farmers on Flickr!

Learn more about the health benefits of our ingredients and where they come from:

BUCKWHEAT: Despite the name, buckwheat is not a wheat, not a grain - it is a berry. The name buckwheat comes from the Dutch word, boekweit. It looks like a beech nut (boek) and is ground up like wheat (weit), but that's where the similarities end. Dogs with grain allergies are safe to eat Barkwheats.  Buckwheat is also a very low glycemic food, meaning it will not spike the blood sugar when eaten, which can lead to ailments such as canine diabetes.  Buckwheat contains magnesium, which relaxes blood vessels, improving blood flow and nutrient delivery thereby improving the cardiovascular system. Our buckwheat flour is milled by us on a buckwheat-only mill and we produce the biscuits in a dedicated gluten-free bakery, which means that you can feel confident that there will be no cross-contamination with any grains in Barkwheats.  H.B. Farms in Woodland, Maine is grows organic buckwheat for Barkwheats. Watch our video to why buckwheat is not actually a wheat!

CHAMOMILE: Known as a mild sedative, this herb also calms inflammation and treats nerves & stomach ailments.  We have partnered with a young Maine farmer, Meg of South Paw Farm to grow our chamomile in Unity, Maine.

SEAVEG: With its ability to scavenge heavy metals from the body, sea vegetables (also known as bladderwrack or rockweed) help protect dogs from illness.  Our bladderwrack is harvested by the crew at Maine Coast Sea Vegetables in Franklin, Maine in the frigid waters off of the coast of Machias, Maine.

GINGER: This root is known to alleviate joint and gland inflammation, and aids in digestion.  We purchase our organic ginger from directly from farmers in Belize, working with Sustainable Harvest International in Surry, Maine to source this wonderful spice.  Our "Ginger & Parsley" flavor is the only dog treat on the market to carry the Fair Trade Certified™ label!

PARSLEY: In addition to freshening the breath, parsley contains a great amount of vitamin K, shown in scientific studies to reduce tumor formation in animals.  Our parsley is grown at Snakeroot Farm in Pittsfield, Maine, Southpaw Farm in Unity, Maine, Mandala Farm in Gouldsboro, Maine and Half Moon Farm in Montville, Maine.

PUMPKIN: It's bright orange, smooth and sweet.  Pumpkin is full of beta-carotenoids which have been shown to fight free radicals that can cause cancer and other diseases.  And you know fiber is always good to keep the digestive system moving, and we've got that covered with the great helpings of fiber in our "Long Pie" pumpkin.  It's grown for us by Wini and Pete at Two In The Bush Farm in Thorndike, Maine, Allen at Green Garden Farm in St. Albans, Maine, John at O'Merea Family Farm in New Sweden, Maine, and Karen at South Auburn Organic Farm.

SAGE: A member of the mint family, sage is a great promoter of oral health, memory function, and overall health.  Its scientific name, Salvia officinalis, is derived from the Latin word, salvere, which means "to be saved." Our aromatic sage is grown at Snakeroot Farm in Pittsfield, Maine, Trailside Farm Herbs in Dayton, Maine and Half Moon Farm in Montville, Maine.

WILD BLUEBERRIES: The sweet taste of summer wouldn't be complete without this antioxidant powerhouse.  Wild blueberries have more antioxidants than traditional, cultivated berries, and help to fight against cancer causing free radicals that damage the good cells in the body.  Our organic, wild blueberries are grown by Moon Hill Farm in Whiting, Maine.

LAVENDER: "Aahhh" is usually the sound humans make when inhaling the calming scents of lavender.  Dogs love it too, and it helps to promote a calm state of mind, as well as acts as an anti-bacterial to keep pups healthy.  Our lavender is grown by a group of women on Vashon Island in Washington state, and will also be grown in Maine and New Hampshire in the coming season.

HONEY: The antioxidants in honey improve immunity.  Our raw honey comes from Swans's Honey in Albion, Maine and Alpine Apiary in Oakland, Maine.

OIL: The Omega-3 fatty acids in oil also promotes a shiny, healthy coat. We use an organic canola oil grown by H.B. Farms in Woodland, Maine.