SINCE his death last weekend, much has been made of Paul Newman's legacy as an actor, but less attention has been paid to his impact on organic snacking. If Mr. Newman hadn't let his daughter Nell create an organic spin-off of his Newman's Own line in 1993, the nation might still be choking down leaden organic cookies and rock-hard pretzels.
Using white flour, sugar and other ingredients familiar to the American palate, Newman's Own built a bridge that helped organic foods move from the health food store to the supermarket.
"His visibility put a quality imprimatur on organic products," said Caren Wilcox, who recently stepped down as director of the Organic Trade Association.
It took a detailed marketing plan and a Thanksgiving dinner that Nell Newman secretly made with organic ingredients to convince her skeptical father that the venture was worth it. Now, 15 years later, the company's line has grown to more than 150 products, and Newman's Own Organics is the third most recognizable organic brand in the country, according to the Hartman Group, a market research firm.
When the company started, major food producers were reluctant to develop organic versions of products for fear consumers might question their traditional offerings, said Peter Meehan, a family friend who started the organic company along with Ms. Newman. "Because he was willing to do it, he helped allay the fears that corporate America had about coming out with both organic and conventional items," he said.
Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/dining/01paul.html?_r=1&ref=dining&oref=slogin
