From: The Dallas Morning News
Pauline Amell-Nash worried that the pesticides and additives used to grow and preserve food were bad for her 1-year-old daughter Sophia, not to mention the earth itself.
That's why the puréed carrots, sweet potatoes and fruits Sophia ate were purchased from makers of organic baby food.
"She is so small I just thought that the more pure, honest things she ate would be better for her," the California mother said.
"I also thought it benefits the environment."
Parents like Ms. Amell-Nash are propelling a surge in organic baby-food sales, and that has prompted more companies to either join or expand their offerings.
Organic food accounts for a tiny portion of the overall baby-food market, but it is definitely growing. Whole Foods Market has tripled the space it allots to organic baby products in the last five years.
Last year, baby-food institution Gerber Products Co. rebranded and broadened its organic line, while Abbott Laboratories introduced an organic version of its Similac baby formula.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspects food producers to ensure they meet its standards for organic products. They include banning the use of conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge for produce, and antibiotics or growth hormones for animals.
Organic baby food sales soared 21.6 percent to $116 million last fiscal year, after jumping 16.4 percent a year earlier, according to the Nielsen Company. Meanwhile, overall baby food sales rose 3.1 percent to $3.7 billion in the same period, after being essentially flat a year earlier.
For Full Story: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/healthyliving/family/stories/DN-nh_organicfiller_0828liv.ART.State.Edition1.425949d.html
SUPPORT OUR
SPONSORS
Parents Serving More Organic Baby Food
-
Industry grows as people look to feed babies foods free of pesticides, additives
By Theresa Agovino
Associated Press, Aug 28, 2007
Straight to the Source
