The History of Meadowfoam

	1833	Meadowfoam is first classified by an English botanist, Robert Brown. Europeans import it as an ornamental plant. Covering a range of 11 species and subspecies, it earns the common name meadowfoam as a field in bloom resembles foam blowing atop the sea.
	1959	As a result of a Congressional request for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to search for native plant species that would represent crop alternatives to agricultural commodities, Meadowfoam is catalogued along with thousands of other crops. Scientists note its peculiar fatty acid composition, which contains previously unknown molecules.
	1960s	Following extensive screening by the USDA, Meadowfoam is one of only a few hundred plants, from amongst the thousands collected, to be flagged for further research. Towards the end of the decade, Oregon State University (OSU), in Corvallis, Oregon, is selected as one of 12 sites for growing trials. Among the crops planted in the Mid-Willamette Valley by OSU researchers are several species of meadowfoam. They note meadowfoam performs well in the moist soils common to the area.
	1970s	Oregon State University begins a program designed to domesticate meadowfoam for use as an oil seed crop. Researchers such as Jimmy Crane, and Wheeler Calhoun must overcome the native species’ tendency to grow low to the ground and shed seed immediately after maturity, as both traits make mechanized harvest all but impossible. In 1975 OSU releases the first improved cultivar of meadowfoam, known as Foamore. Commercial scale experimental production follows shortly. Meadowfoam is well suited as a rotation crop for grass seed producers in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. In the latter part of the decade, Meadowfoam Seed Oil catches the eye of the Japanese cosmetics industry.
	1980s	Meadowfoam’s future in the Willamette Valley becomes tied to the practice of field burning, a standard technique used in the Valley to control disease pressure, break weed cycles, and maintain the high purity expected of commercial seed crops. In 1981 the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) institutes a fee system for field burning. A portion of the revenue is redirected towards meadowfoam research as it represents a rotational alternative to field burning. 1984 marks the true beginning of meadowfoam commercialization as fifteen grass seed growers form the nonprofit Oregon Meadowfoam Growers Association (OMGA). Shortly thereafter, the OMGA receives exclusive rights for production of Mermaid, the most advanced cultivar developed by Oregon State University to date. By working in collaboration and tying crop production to market demands, the organizations hope to avoid the boom and bust economic cycles common to agricultural commodities. By 1985, Meadowfoam Seed Oil is being produced and sold commercially. Early sales are spotty and restricted to the Japanese cosmetics industry. In 1988, a fatal multi-vehicle accident occurs on Interstate 5 as a result of smoke from nearby field burning. The Governor places a moratorium on field burning in the wake of the tragedy. Soon after, research funds for alternatives to field burning are terminated and the future of meadowfoam comes into question.
	1990s	In the early part of the decade, the meadowfoam industry enters a period of rapid growth. Oregon State University secures new research dollars through the United States Dept. of Agriculture and meadowfoam breeding efforts are more involved than ever. Meadowfoam Seed Oil gains broader acceptance in the US & European cosmetics markets. By 1992 crop and oil production are being conducted on an annual basis. In 1993 OSU releases a new variety, Floral, which offers superior yield and growth characteristics. Developed under the supervision of Dr. Gary Jolliff, it becomes integral to the expansion of meadowfoam acreage through the decade. By 1997, over eighty growers are involved in meadowfoam crop production. This massive growth necessitates the reorganization of the OMGA into the OMG Meadowfoam Oil Seed Growers, Inc., a cooperative corporation. OMG forms Natural Plant Products as a wholly owned subsidiary to oversee production & marketing of Meadowfoam Seed Oil. In 1999, the vertical integration of the meadowfoam industry is completed when Natural Plant Products assumes responsibility for the worldwide distribution of Meadowfoam Seed Oil. NPP works directly with distributors and customers to develop market share for Meadowfoam Seed Oil in the cosmetics and personal care industries.
	2000	Overproduction of meadowfoam seed in the late 1990s forces NPP and OMG to suspend seed production operations in order to normalize inventories. A renewed focus on market development drives the organization. Natural Plant Products selects Charkit Chemical Corp. as the exclusive vendor of Meadowfoam Seed Oil in the United States.
	2001	OMG & NPP receive rights to two new varieties of Meadowfoam developed by OSU, Knowles and Wheeler are developed under the guidance of Dr. Steven Knapp with funds provided by the USDA and other sources. In anticipation of a return to production in coming years, small-scale trial production plots are established. NPP expands research operations on Meadowfoam Seedmeal, the by-product remaining after oil is extracted from seeds. Research documents the materials effectiveness in promoting growth in a wide range of plant materials.
	2002	A sales increase of 40% over figures from 4 years earlier is recorded. Meadowfoam Seed Oil is now used in a broad range of commercial products covering skin care, hair care, lip products, and body care. To insure its future viability, NPP begins a research and development program to evaluate additional products from Meadowfoam as well as other complimentary raw materials.
	2003	Oregon State University researchers secure a patent on the plant growth promoting activities of Meadowfoam Seedmeal. Research funded by Natural Plant Products in the late 1990s and early 2000 forms the basis for the claims. NPP is granted a license on the technology and continues to explore the use of Meadowfoam Seedmeal in agricultural applications.
	2004	Meadowfoam production returns to the Valley. Approximately 2,000 acres are sown under the supervision of Steve Salisbury, OMG’s director of field operations who joins the staff in August 2004.

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