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The first certified organic product from Campbell Soup Co. (Camden, N.J.) has begun to hit store shelves. Campbell's Organic Tomato Juice carries the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Washington) Organic Seal.
The launch comes as the organic food market basks in a growth spurt. Organic food options have grown 15-20% annually over the last 10 years, says the Organic Trade Association (Greefield, Mass.).
According to Sean Connolly, vice president/general manager of Campbell's beverage division, “Campbell recognizes the tremendous growth in organic products, and … we wanted to expand our offerings to give consumers an organic option within the tomato juice category.”
In producing the product, Campbell's contracted with certified organic farmers to grow vine-ripened tomatoes. Upon harvest in early August, the tomatoes were processed on certified lines within 48 hours.