About Nature’s Choice Essentials
Nature’s Choice Essentials was founded by Chris Biro in May of 2000 for the primary purpose of providing higher quality food for our flock of over 100 parrots, most of which are “rehomes”. In October of 2006, Nature’s Choice Essentials was purchased by Harvest Feed Company (then named Hillsboro Feed Company) in Hillsboro Oregon. Harvest Feed Co. produces a wide variety of animal feeds in our 60,000. sqr ft. certified organic manufacturing facility. Chris Biro is President and acting CEO of Harvest Feed Co.
The 100% Organic Foundation Formula Pellets were initially created to provide Chris’ show birds with the highest quality food possible. A key part of The Pirate’s Parrot Show was that the public was allowed to hold and pet many of the birds during and after the show. The birds were handled by 30,000 to 50,000 people a year and thus were exposed to all manner of conditions and potential health hazards.
It is Chris’ belief that the best way to safeguard the health of his birds is to offer them only the purest and highest quality food, pure clean water, plenty of fresh air, lots of sunlight, and plenty of exercise. His goal was to create minimally processed foods of the greatest nutritional value with the least amount of chemical contaminants as possible; and to keep these products affordable for both pet owners and breeders.
We believe in organic farming practices and believe that healthier plants create healthier foods. We also believe that each type of food has its advantages and disadvantages; there is no such thing as a “complete pellet” nor are pellets the “perfect parrot food” and sunflower seeds are not evil as some would have you believe. We believe that by carefully selecting and feeding a variety of different foods we can best meet the nutritional and emotional requirements of our birds. Diet choices also should be made based on the activity level and on the bird’s housing conditions.
The Foundation Formula Pellets were the first on the list to be created due to pellets being the most nutritionally balanced form of food available to feed pet parrots. Pellets are also easily fed and easily stored, both when on the road and by bird sitters, i.e. pellets not only have a high “nutritional value” but also a high “convenience value”. The Dynamo Sprouts line came next due to the high “live food value” of sprouted seeds and grains. The Merrimedley Seed mixes followed due to the high “fun value” of seeds. CozyChef cooked meals will follow as a great way to get birds to eat all manner of veggies and other foods not so easily fed to most pet parrots, high “warm gooey food value”. Read about the parrot food type pyramid.
Though Chris has created the general basis for each of these product lines, he relies heavily on nutrition and health professionals to finalize the formulas of these products.
