Whatcom County top producer

We're not a big flaxseed-growing state, but Washington is the Mecca of flax oil.

Surrounded by the pastures of Ferndale, Whatcom County, just north of Bellingham, Barlean's Organic Oils produces the top brand of flax oil in America.

"We've been No. 1 in flax oil for years," bragged co-founder Bruce Barlean.

The company produces about 15,000 bottles of flax oil daily, usually shipping within 24 hours after press.

Parents Dave and Barbara Barlean were already in the business of omega-3s with their popular Barlean's Fishery, established in 1972, but after their son returned from pressing flax for another company, the family decided to diversify the business by opening Barlean's Organic Oils in 1989.

"We figured if the benefits of flax were true, this could be a halfway-decent product," said Barlean. Barlean's flax oil is cold-pressed and produced from flaxseed derived from several regions, including Saskatchewan, the Dakotas, California and some growers in Eastern Washington.

Cold-pressed means that seed temperatures never exceed body temperature, which preserves the integrity of oil.

"It's organic. It's renewable. It's unrefined," he said, counting on his fingers. "And your body takes what it needs."

— Kathy Mahdoubi