Meet Spot Farms Dog Food
Spot Farms is a dehydrated dog food company specializing in human-grade ingredients in all their foods. Everything they include in their products is sourced reliably from the United States.
The company believes in staying small and keeping close touch with the farmers and producers that grow and manufacture their products.
They use only the best wholesome proteins alongside whole grains and vegetables that come from local farms in the USA.
In this article, Spot Farms dog food review, we’re giving you an in-depth look into everything you need to know about the company so you can decide if this food is the right choice for your pup.
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Brand Quick Look
- Parent Company: Spot Farms
- Founded in: Unknown
- Made in: North Carolina, USA
- Available at: Chewy and Amazon
- Types of Food: Dehydrated
- Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
- Recalled in Past? : No
Behind the Brand
Spot Farms sets out every day to develop the best dog foods for your pups by partnering with farm families across the county.
They believe in using regionally grown, antibiotic-free proteins to make sure they provide only the best of the best for their customers.
The company makes all its products in the US, and they only use USDA approved meats raised on family farms. They claim that all their foods only include human-grade ingredients and they make everything in small batches.
The foods contain no artificial colors or preservatives with no BHA, BHT, or any unidentifiable chemicals.
Spot Farms Dog Food Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
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Spot Farms Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
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Spot Farms Grain-Free Turkey Recipe
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Spot Farms Chicken Apple Sausage Recipe
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Spot Farms Chicken Strips with Glucosamine & Chondroitin
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Spot Farms Turkey Meatball Recipe with Cranberries
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Spot Farms Chicken Nuggets
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Spot Farms Chicken Jerky Skin & Coat Formula
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Spot Farms Chicken Jerky with Flaxseed & Vitamin E
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Spot Farms Chicken Jerky Hip & Joint Formula
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Spot Farms Natural Cuts Chicken
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Check Price on Chewy |
In this section, we’re going to take a more in-depth look into some of the food lines from Spot Farms to give you a better idea about the ingredients, nutrition, and reputation of the food. When you’re deciding if the dog food is right for your pup, you can never have too much information.
After reading these reviews, you should have a sound idea of whether Spot Farms is the right choice for your canine.
- Spot Farms Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
- Spot Farms Grain-Free Turkey Recipe
- Spot Farms Chicken Apple Sausage Recipe
- Spot Farms Chicken Strips with Glucosamine & Chondroitin
- Spot Farms Turkey Meatball Recipe with Cranberries
- Spot Farms Chicken Nuggets
- Spot Farms Chicken Jerky Skin & Coat Formula
- Spot Farms Chicken Jerky with Flaxseed & Vitamin E
- Spot Farms Chicken Jerky Hip & Joint Formula
- Spot Farms Natural Cuts Chicken
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1. Spot Farms Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Flavor: 4 out of 5
- Ingredients: 4.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 4 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
As with all the other foods from this company, this one uses human-grade ingredients including dehydrated chicken as the first ingredient. The formula packs a lot of fruits and vegetables to provide balanced nutrition and delicious flavor.
Benefits:
- Grain-free
- Antibiotic-free
- Chicken raised in North Carolina
- Human-grade ingredients
- Works for all life stages
- Just add water to finish
First 5 Ingredients:
- Dehydrated chicken
- Dried potatoes
- Flax seed
- Dried apples
- Dried carrots
Nutritional Breakdown:
The chicken formula has a 4.3 out of 5-star rating with 86% recommendation on Chewy.
Most customers are satisfied by the ingredients, but they say if your pup is even slightly picky, they will not eat the food. When you re-hydrate, it becomes a gooey mess that turns most dogs’ noses.
Overall, this food contains excellent ingredients along with probiotics so you know you’re feeding your pup the best they can get.
The probiotics and real fruits and vegetables help their immune system and digestion. If the price is within your budget, and your dog is not too picky, we would highly recommend adding this food to your pup's diet.
2. Spot Farms Grain-Free Turkey Recipe
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Flavor: 4 out of 5
- Ingredients: 4.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 4.5 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
Crafted using a dehydration process, this recipe preserves all the taste and nutritional value of food while lending your canine extra energy throughout the day. Plus, since it is a single animal protein diet, it’s perfect for sensitive pups too.
Benefits:
- Turkey is the only animal protein
- Grain-Free
- Human-grade ingredients
- Uses fresh and antibiotic-free meat
- No artificial ingredients
First 5 Ingredients:
- Dehydrated Turkey
- Dried Potatoes
- Flax Seed
- Dried Apples
- Dried Carrots
Nutritional Breakdown:
Based on Chewy.com’s product rating, 85% out of 94 customers recommend this diet to other pet owners.
It has a 4.2 out of 5 star score, with plenty of the positive reviews detailing how their pets would happily lick their bowls clean when fed this meal. It also gets top points for being easy to prepare and for giving “bang for the buck.”
On the other end of the review scoring, plenty of the negative feedback mostly has to do with the dehydrated food resembling a powdered form more than dehydrated chunks of food. Most of them disliked the consistency as did their pets.
This food has a nice and healthy combination of quality meat and fresh produce. The fruits and veggies picked for this meal are known to be packed with plenty of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins.
The nutritional value, based on the guaranteed analysis, shows a perfectly balanced diet.
But we also have to take customer feedback into consideration into making our own rating. While the ingredients look fine and the food itself is good for pups, the texture pulled down the score a little bit. But only a little. It’s still a fine meal to give your pet dog any time.
3. Spot Farms Chicken Apple Sausage Recipe
- Overall: 4.5 out of 5
- Flavor: 4.5 out of 5
- Ingredients: 4.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 4 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
This unique recipe provides dogs with an interesting flavor twist. It has chicken for a meaty taste but coupled with apple for a healthier and more flavorful bite. The apple gives it extra fiber to keep your pup’s digestion healthier and his system more able to absorb the nutrients in his food.
Benefits:
- US-grown chicken
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- Made with real apples
- Bite-sized for training and for small dogs
- Human-grade product
First 5 Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Apples
- Honey
- Ground Brown Rice
- Glycerin
Nutritional Breakdown:
195 customer feedback and counting, and 96% of them recommend these snacks to other pet owners.
Many of them like how easy it is to break off pieces of these bites into smaller treats to be used for training. The soft and chewy texture also makes it ideal for even senior dogs to munch on.
Another thing that pet owners like about these snacks is that they have a nice combination of being tasty and healthy. Each piece is only 28 kcal, and all the ingredients are carefully selected to be functional.
The negative reviews, on the other hand, focus on dogs not liking the treats. One buyer also complained that the treats must have changed because they look thinner, are dryer, and more difficult to break up than before.
These tasty bites are made without fillers, preservatives, or anything you wouldn’t want to see in your pup’s food. They’re soft, chewy, high on fiber and protein, and just plain tasty.
And because there are far more positive reviews than negative ones, we still highly recommend these wholesome treats for any pet owner.
Remember, though, that preference is subjective and what other dogs like may not be the same as what your pup does.
4. Spot Farms Chicken Strips with Glucosamine & Chondroitin
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Flavor: 4.5 out of 5
- Ingredients: 3.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 4 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
Cut into easy-to-dole-out strips, these chicken snacks not only give your pup a nice and tasty reward, they also promote optimal health. Crafted with chondroitin and glucosamine, the chicken-flavored snacks help canines maintain strong and healthy joints and hips.
Benefits:
- Made from USDA-inspected and cage-free chickens
- Contains chondroitin and glucosamine
- Human-grade treats
- Cooked in small batches
- Limited ingredients
First 5 Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Salt
- Vinegar
- Natural Flavor
Nutritional Breakdown:
93% of previous customers (based on 183 reviews) will buy this product again. A common thread among the positive feedback is how these snacks seem to help pups with their knee trouble.
Several pooches who were given these treats as part of a supplementation diet got back to their old selves and became more active again.
The food seems to help a lot with doggy joint aches and pains and improve their mobility. It’s also a big plus that many dogs like the taste of the snacks and would usually beg for one.
As with most foods, there are negative reviews too. A common complaint about this product is that they’re hard and difficult to chew.
The chicken strips also turn hard quickly once opened, although one customer did say that putting in a piece of bread in the bag keeps the treats nicely soft.
We’ve found these treats to be extremely functional. The complaint about the treats turning hard once the bag has been opened can be remedied by putting in a piece of bread to keep them softer.
As for the ingredients, we only have an issue with one. The cane sugar. Sugary treats can cause obesity in dogs, which results in plenty more problems for them.
5. Spot Farms Turkey Meatball Recipe with Cranberries
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Flavor: 4 out of 5
- Ingredients: 4 out of 5
- Packaging: 4 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
These treats are crafted using turkey that has been raised without using antibiotics, and a medley of healthy grains and fruits like cranberries, oats, and rice bran. The ingredients are all sourced here in the US from Indiana farms.
Benefits:
- Soft and chewy texture
- Made with antibiotic-free turkey
- All-natural ingredients
- Features antioxidant-rich cranberries
- Human-grade
First 5 Ingredients:
- Turkey
- Rolled Oats
- Honey
- Glycerin
- Rice Bran
Nutritional Breakdown:
These fun treats have garnered a 96% recommended rating from 121 customer reviews on Chewy.com. 88% have given it a 5-star score, while only 2% gave the snacks a 1-star.
According to the positive feedbacks, these are hound favorites that smell amazing. No “dog food” scent at all, which probably makes them all the more attractive to dogs who think these are human food.
If you don’t want to feed your pup a whole meatball, you can easily break one apart as these are soft.
There are also some negative reviews. The two and three star ratings on Chewy talk about the products being bad right out of the bag, although they were far from the expiry date. Some dogs were also reported to have gotten upset stomachs after being given the treats.
We do not invalidate the bad reviews. The products that went bad might have been from improper storage from the seller’s end.
And some dogs’ bodies have different levels of tolerance for different kinds of foods, which may account for the upset tummies they experienced.
We took into consideration the ingredients and both sides of customer feedback. We still think these snacks are, on the whole, good for dogs, but every pup is different.
6. Spot Farms Chicken Nuggets
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Flavor: 4.5 out of 5
- Ingredients: 3 out of 5
- Packaging: 4 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
Who doesn’t like a nice chicken nugget? Even dogs do. These nugget-shaped chicken snacks are made with fresh chicken and do not contain any artificial ingredient. The treats contain limited ingredients — there are only six — and there are no fillers in them.
Benefits:
- Made in the USA with Carolina-sourced products
- No artificial ingredients
- Low-calorie treats
- Uses only six ingredients
- Grain-Free
First 5 Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Salt
- Vinegar
- Natural Smoke Flavor
Nutritional Breakdown:
These nuggets have one of the highest recommended ratings on Chewy among other Spot Farms dog treats. 98% of reviews highly recommend the snacks to other pet parents, while 91% gave it a 5-star score.
Most pet owners were happy that they’re giving their dogs safe treats that are not only delicious but are healthy too. The fat content is low and so are the calories.
They’re the perfect size for training, but you can also break them off easily into smaller pieces if you want to.
Another thing that was commended about these nuggets is how easy it is to identify all ingredients and where they are all sourced, since the brand is pretty open about where they get their ingredients.
There’s only one one-star rating on the product. The lone review states that the food must not really be human-grade because although the brand says it is, there’s a note on the brand site that the food is not intended for humans.
We’re not sure, but this could just be a case of semantics. The food is not intended for people, but they aren’t harmful to humans when consumed, is our take on it.
As for our review, we feel that these are nice treats to give your pet since each nugget is only about 21 kcal.
However, it does contain cane sugar at 0.35 grams per nugget, which is a sizeable amount. If you must, give very sparingly, although we’d prefer a sugarless snack over this.
7. Spot Farms Chicken Jerky Skin & Coat Formula
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Flavor: 4.5 out of 5
- Ingredients: 3.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 4 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
Spot Farms’s chicken jerky recipe offers dogs a soft and yummy chew while providing them with plenty of nutrients to promote a healthier skin and coat. The snacks are led by fresh chicken and they only contain seven ingredients, making it easier for you to identify each thing that goes into your pup’s food.
Benefits:
- Uses antibiotic-free chicken
- Contains Omega-3 and vitamin E
- No fillers
- Does not contain artificial ingredients
- All-natural and human-grade
First 5 Ingredients:
- Chicken Breast
- Dried Cane Molasses
- Vinegar
- Flax Seed
- Dried Kale
Nutritional Breakdown:
95% of 63 customers recommend these treats for other dogs. The jerky pieces are gobbled right up, according to owners, and these have an added bonus of smelling good, unlike other doggy snacks. Even picky pups enjoy them, and the treats usually do not last long.
A few have also said that the treats have helped make their dogs’ fur look better and less dry.
On the other end of the review spectrum, customers are saying that the treats are hard. Unlike the usual ‘jerky’ treats that are soft, these are real ones with a dry texture. They can be broken into smaller pieces, but it is a little difficult.
As for us, we’ve looked into the nutritional analysis of these jerkies, and they’re quite good. 50% minimum is a good level for protein.
The fat is only 1%, another good thing. We like the inclusion of kale and flaxseed here, but we do not feel the same about the cane molasses.
Cane molasses is just another term for sugar. Spot Farms frequently add sugar to their treats, which is not necessary nor beneficial to dogs.
If you’ll check the label, you’ll see that each jerky is already equal to 49kcal. The sugar adds calories and may lead to obesity in your pup.
8. Spot Farms Chicken Jerky with Flaxseed & Vitamin E
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Flavor: 4.5 out of 5
- Ingredients: 3.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 4 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
These all-natural snacks feature human-grade ingredients, USDA-inspected cage-free chickens, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. Sourced from family farms in Kentucky, the chickens used are also antibiotic-free. It’s a simple recipe that’s made wholesome.
Benefits:
- Free from grains, corn, wheat, or soy
- Does not use animal byproducts
- No artificial preservative, color, or flavor
- Fresh chicken is the first ingredient
- Protein-rich
First 5 Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Vinegar
- Sunflower Oil
- Flax Seed
Nutritional Breakdown:
There’s nothing higher than a 100% recommended rating on Chewy. Although there are only 43 reviews on this product, there are no negative feedback.
The lowest score is a 3-star rating that says it’s a fine treat that dries out easily if you accidentally leave the bag open, which isn’t really the treats’ fault.
As for the positives, many like how easy it is to break the snacks into smaller pieces to use as a training treat. There is no odor, and canines love the taste.
A few have also noticed a difference in their dog’s coats, which are looking healthier and shinier. They also mentioned that the treats are chewy and last a little longer than most.
We like how the brand included flaxseed and healthy oils into the mix to give pups guaranteed levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and vitamin E. The crude protein content is also high at 50%, which can only mean extra energy for your dog.
What we do question is the inclusion of organic cane sugar. It may be healthier because it is organic, but cane sugar is still sugar, and not really beneficial for dogs.
It’s mostly used to entice dogs to eat, and gives treats a little more flavor. Only feed this intermittently as canines don’t need all that sugar.
9. Spot Farms Chicken Jerky Hip & Joint Formula
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Flavor: 4 out of 5
- Ingredients: 3.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 4 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
These are USA-made treats crafted using antibiotic-free chicken. The treats are functional as they target canine hips and joints to promote mobility and a more active lifestyle. The ingredients are sourced locally from Kentucky.
Benefits:
- Protein-rich snacks
- Chickens used are antibiotic-free
- Contains only six ingredients
- Has chondroitin and glucosamine
- Free from fillers and artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
First 5 Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Vinegar
- Glucosamine Hydrochloride
- Chondroitin Sulfate
Nutritional Breakdown:
These supplemental snacks have an excellent rating on Chewy.com. 98% of 97 reviewers highly recommend them, and these have gotten a score of 4.7 stars out of 5.
According to pet owners, their pet dogs are highly excited to see these treats and would often come running when they hear the bags being opened. Even picky canines are happy when given these chicken jerkies.
One of the positive comments commends the use of locally and ethically-sourced ingredients.
The strips are also easily broken off into smaller pieces to dole out as training treats. Lastly, the chondroitin and glucosamine in the food seems to help senior pups get their bounce back.
There is a lone one-star rating, and it complains about the use of organic cane sugar, which has no nutritional value and is really unnecessary.
We do agree with the negative review that sugar has no place in these treats. There are many other healthy treats that do not make use of sugar, because it really is not necessary.
We do have to take into consideration that the other ingredients are useful and seem to be helping dogs regain their mobility. So we’ve taken lots of points for the sugar but give points back for the treats’ overall functionality.
10. Spot Farms Natural Cuts Chicken
- Overall: 3.5 out of 5
- Flavor: 4 out of 5
- Ingredients: 3.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 4 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
Natural Cuts Chicken Jerky are treats that have not been shaped in any way. They’re made of all-natural and human-grade chicken that are USDA-certified and antibiotic-free. They’re also free from any kind of fillers so your pup is getting just simple and natural food that’s crafted to promote a shiny coat and healthy skin.
Benefits:
- No fillers included
- Free from grains, wheat, soy, or corn
- Rich in omegas and vitamin E
- No animal byproducts
- Human-grade
First 5 Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Flax Seed
Nutritional Breakdown:
About 85% of reviewers on Chewy.com recommend this product to other canine owners. Many customers are happy that their dogs love the taste, with many pups having a hard time waiting when told it’s treat time.
The chicken is also quite tender so some dogs with very few teeth left can still enjoy them. Even dogs that are difficult to find snacks for do not have any issues gulping down the treats.
Another point in these snacks’ favor is their scent, which buyers say smells good and does not have that odorous smell that other dog treats have.
Meanwhile, the negative reviews focus on the treats coming in very small pieces (probably from shipping).
Instead of bigger chunks of chicken, you will find very small and less than bite-sized shards that are hard to give away as treats. Either you feed your dog out of your hand or you will need to place the pieces in a bowl for them to lick clean.
As for ingredients, there are only a limited number. Most are what you’d expect from a clean recipe, except for the organic cane sugar.
We can’t think of a reason why there’s sugar included aside from being used to entice dogs to eat, because sugar does not provide any nutritional value at all. Sugar can also be bad for your pup’s teeth unless you brush your pet daily.
What Types of Dog Food Does Spot Farms Offer?
Spot Farms offers two different dehydrated foods with varying proteins across each line. Most of their brands appear to be grain-free with one primary source of protein. However, they do have a lot of treats available.
Here is a list of all the food choices from Spot Farms with a brief description:
- Grain-Free Chicken – This food uses high-quality, antibiotic-free chicken alongside potatoes, carrots, blueberries, apples, and spinach to provide a balanced diet full of nutrients and minerals. The chicken gets sourced from family farms in North Carolina.
- Grain-Free Turkey – This grain-free formula uses turkey that is sourced from farms in Indiana alongside flaxseeds, potatoes, and cranberries for nutrients and delicious flavor.
Lately, it seems Spot Farms is more focused on crafting treats for canines. They have numerous ones on offer. Here are all of them:
Classics:
- Chicken Apple Sausage
- Chicken Jerky with Flaxseed and Vitamin E
- Chicken Nuggets
- Chicken Strip with Glucosamine and Chondroitin
- Duck Tenders
- Organic Beef Tenders
- Organic Chicken Tenders
- Organic Duck Tenders
- Organic Turkey Tenders
- Turkey Meatballs with Cranberries
Natural Cut Jerky:
- Natural Cuts Jerky
Functional Jerky Treats:
- Chicken Jerky Hip + Joint
- Chicken Jerky Skin + Coat
Training Treats:
- Duck Training BItes
- Duck Training Stix
- Organic Chicken Training BItes
- Organic Chicken Training Stix
Basic Jerky Tenders:
- Basics Beef Jerky Tenders
- Basics Chicken Jerky Tenders
Wild Shreds:
- Wild Shreds Beef Jerky
- Wild Shreds Bison Jerky
- Wild Shreds Organic Chicken Jerky
- Wild Shreds Venison Jerky
Customer Reviews
The only way to find out if this food will work well for your pup without actually buying it is to read real reviews from customers who already made that decision. After reading some of these reviews, you should have a good idea of whether Spot Farms has a positive reputation in the online marketplace.
Many of the positive reviews say that it’s excellent as a food topper and they love the smell and ingredients included in the formulas. Some of the critical reviews state that the food does not go over well with picky eaters.
Positive
- Great Product – I have a dachshund/terrier mix whose teeth are terrible. She found it hard to chew hard kibble and would end up walking away from the bowl during feeding time. This product has been great! She loves the taste, and it mixes easily with water. Recommend! – Chewy Customer
- Great for gravy or topper – Love the spot farms dehydrated food, and so do all of my picky chihuahuas. I can sprinkle it on dry food and add a little water to make a yummy gravy or mix to regular consistency for the ones with no teeth. – Chewy Customer
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Negative
- My Westy Loves it. – I'm giving only four stars because I find it difficult to get a perfect consistency. It says once rehydrated it lasts only two days refrigerated, and so I find myself either making too much or not enough. I use it together with dry food..and it's kind of sticky to scoop out. My Westy is a gulper, so I use a puzzle bowl which makes it a bit more difficult. If she were more of a nibbler, this would be great. I think I will be going back to Tyler's frozen when this is gone. I will say this does make for a great gravy topper to dry food if you add extra water. – Chewy Customer
- Not for picky eaters – I don't like to write bad reviews, but… if you have a picky dog, but in case anyone else reading reviews to count on my dog eating this. My dog didn't like it at all; it is a slimy green substance, no good smell. I wouldn't recommend for any truly picky eater. The other dogs that will eat anything, they ate it. I'm going back to cooking chicken and rice for the elderly girl. Not stating anything wrong with this food, but if you're hoping to give to a picky one, they prob won't like it. Was disappointed. – Chewy Customer
Human-Grade Ingredients For a Member of Your Family
Pet owners are continually seeking out ways they can improve their dog's diet and increase their quality of life. Over the years we continue to see more and more fad diets that want you to try their new method of improving your pup’s nutrition.
We believe in sticking to what works, and what works the best is high-quality ingredients, reliably sourced, from a transparent company. We love the fact that Spot Farms shares everything with their customers about where they source their products and how they incorporate their ingredients.
When you choose dog food, you not only select the food, but you choose the company as well. Many of us have chosen Spot Farms, and we would recommend you do the same.