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While organic food is often promoted as grown by small farmers,
organic food is becoming big business as more manufacturers
are promoting it with a large-scale mentality.
Indeed, organic food production has become more mainstream,
and supermarkets now have whole sections devoted to the products,
which are grown without conventional pesticides, biotechnology,
antibiotics or hormones.
Organic food sales reflect this, having increased from $3.5
billion in 1996 to more than $9 billion in 2001.
Food giants such as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are also breaking
into the organic food market. Frito-Lay, which is owned by
PepsiCo, has begun selling organic salsa and blue and yellow
corn chips with the brand name Tostitos.
In 2001, Coca-Cola purchased the beverage line Odwalla and
is selling organic carrot, apple and orange juices.
Additionally, the spice producer McCormick & Co. has
been selling organic spices, including thyme and rosemary,
since 2002.
However, organic farmers still play a role in the organic
market as some of the large processors purchase all of their
ingredients from such farmers.
Along with the change in organic food manufacturers, the
organic consumer is also changing, according to experts. Families
with young children are now the biggest consumers of organic
products.
Mindfully.org
May 7, 2003
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