Our Story Started Long Ago...
During his many travels to Europe, Frank witnessed a quiet revolution taking shape across Germany—small oil pressing businesses opening throughout the country, each dedicated to a singular craft: cold-pressed seed and nut oils.
The emphasis was unmistakably on cold-pressed. These artisans understood what industrial production had forgotten: that keeping temperatures low preserves the nutritional integrity of every seed and nut. This is how all seed and nut oils were made prior to the 1930s, before industrial manufacturing changed everything.
Today, mass-produced oils like canola and sunflower prioritize yield and speed over quality. Heat extraction became the standard—faster, cheaper, more profitable. The result? Oils stripped of their nutritional value, serving little more purpose than lubricating a frying pan.
Frank saw an opportunity to bring traditional methods back to North America—and that vision eventually found its way to Vernon, BC.
Over the course of several summers Marlow served as Production Manager for Mobile Juice Factory, a highly successful startup that turned fruit waste into delicious juice, a venture that landed him on CBC’s “Dragon’s Den.” He has a real passion for setting up and managing machinery and managing a high quality output several hours a day.
For years, a seed oil press Frank imported from Germany sat collecting dust in a sea can. The longer it sat, the more Marlow started pondering what it would take to set it up and start pressing organic, delicious seed and nut oils from local materials. The problem was, the European press required 400 volts and 50-amp power. They ended up borrowing space from a welding shop and buying a special transformer to produce enough power to operate it.
There was a ton of trial and error! The machine came with no instructions and left Marlow getting sprayed with oil, having the hopper fill with oil and nothing at the press head, or the product coming out like spaghetti all over the floor. He was able to get a German oil-pressing machinist to share some tips and sage advice… and he was finally able to get an output he was proud of.
The Science of Freshness
Our production facility uses traditional cold-pressing methods that preserve every vitamin, mineral, and beneficial compound nature intended. Unlike industrial processors who prioritize speed and shelf life, we press small batches at temperatures that never exceed what would naturally occur in nature.
Each seed tells a story. Our black seeds come directly from premium suppliers in Egypt, where the soil and climate create the highest thymoquinone content available. Our pumpkin seeds are sourced from Germany, where generations of farmers have perfected growing techniques. Every bottle represents a direct connection from these time-tested sources to your table.
A Moment We'll Never Forget
Marlow and our Sales and Marketing Manager, Levi Meyers, were really hit with a surprise fragrance when they started pressing black cumin seed.
"...the aroma is just... it's otherworldly. It's almost intoxicating in nature. It's got a beautiful smell. It feels ancient, honestly. That takes me back somewhere, to where I lived" says Marlow.
It was the first time they'd ever pressed this seed, and it turned into a pretty special moment.
"We both look at each other and we're like, 'Smells like...,' and we both said pizza at the same time and just started laughing because it was like that oregano-y kind of herby smell." explained Levi.
To this day, Marlow has a thing for adding black cumin seed oil and hazelnut oil into his morning coffee every day. He's found it really puts a spring in his step and starts the day off right.
It's our hope to get our careful and consistent, high quality seed oils to people all over North America. We'd all live a little bit longer and a little bit healthier, happier lives. Maybe we'd have a little bit more pep in our steps every morning, too.
Levi shared, "I've had repeat buyers coming back being like, 'I love this product, I don't know what I did before without it.' Just all the different benefits that you can use it for, it's incredible."
Recent Updates
- Since the launch of the peanut and pumpkin oils, a few other products have joined the lineup, like walnut, hazelnut, flax and more.
- The black cumin seed oil recently won “best new condiment” in April of this year at The Grocery & Specialty Food West Trade Show in Vancouver.
- You’ll find our products at many local retailers around the Okanagan and southern British Columbia grocery and health food stores.
- We’re also regularly setup at our local Farmer’s Markets, check our Instagram for info, and stop by for a taste!
Our Team
We're a team built on friendship and a shared passion for quality and innovation. Our journey began with a vision to create something special, and we're proud to say that our collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Marlow Deiter, our founder and production manager, brings his passion for quality and innovation to every bottle of our oil, ensuring it embodies the highest standards. He's joined by Levi Meyers, who handles sales and marketing with a natural entrepreneurial spirit and a knack for building a strong community around R&M Essentials.
We're grateful for the guidance and wisdom of our mentor Frank, we're proud to work together as a team, supporting and learning from each other. Our synergy drives our success, and we're committed to enriching lives with our delicious and natural cold-pressed oils.
Ready to experience the RM Essential difference? Browse our collection of fresh, cold-pressed seed oils and taste what real nutrition feels like.
Have questions about our oils or process? Contact our team directly—we love talking about what we do.