More Organic Options on Store Shelves: Organic Valley™ Tomatoes Grow Organic Access Through Del Monte Foods Relationship
Diversification into organic canned tomatoes upholds Organic Valley’s mission to sustain family farms
LA FARGE, Wis., October 25, 2021 — To support increased consumer demand for healthy, organic and sustainably-grown fruits and vegetables*, Organic Valley organic canned tomatoes are now available at select grocery stores nationwide. The new, innovative relationship announced today between Organic Valley and Del Monte Foods will expand produce options for consumers with USDA Certified Organic Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce and Tomato Paste. Each Organic Valley organic tomato product is sourced from vine-ripened California tomatoes grown without synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers in compliance with the USDA National Organic Program.
“Our goal is to create an economic model that provides stability for organic family farms, that is why we exist. As a cooperative, we’ve joined forces with others for decades to co-create the kind of food system we all want that cares for the earth, nourishes peoples and strengthens communities,” said Organic Valley CEO Bob Kirchoff. “That’s why we decided to pilot a relationship with Del Monte Foods that will allow us to expand the Organic Valley brand into new areas at retail and together make organic food accessible to more consumers.”
This new relationship reinforces the Organic Valley brand commitment to certified organic products.
“As we pursue our vision to create a healthier tomorrow where nutritious foods are more accessible to all, we’re excited to team up with Organic Valley,” said Del Monte Foods Inc. President and CEO Greg Longstreet. Organic Valley’s deep and trusted roots in the organic space, combined with our expertise in growing, marketing and distributing to major retailers will enable us to nourish more people with healthy, affordable food. We’re pleased this collaboration will enable us to expand our support and commitment to organic family farms.”
All the tomatoes in the new Organic Valley Tomato products are USDA Certified Organic – field-grown and vine-ripened. The California-grown organic tomatoes come from multi-generational family farms that all use sustainable growing practices like drip irrigation to conserve water and target organic nutrients to the plant without wasting any resources, integrated pest management, crop rotations in the fields, surrounding rotational crops, buffer crops, and more.
About Organic Valley
Organic Valley is passionate about doing what’s right for people, animals, and earth and is committed to bringing ethically made organic food to families everywhere. Organic Valley is the largest farmer-owned organic cooperative in the U.S. and one of the world's largest organic consumer brands. Founded in 1988 to sustain family farms through organic farming, the cooperative represents approximately 1,800 farmers in 34 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit ov.coop/impact. Organic Valley is also @OrganicValley on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Del Monte Foods
For more than 130 years, Del Monte Foods, Inc. has been driven by our mission to nourish families with earth's goodness. As the original plant-based food company, we're always innovating to make nutritious and delicious foods more accessible to consumers across our portfolio of beloved brands, including Del Monte®, Contadina®, College Inn®, and S&W®. We believe that everyone deserves great tasting food they can feel good about, which is why we grow and produce our products using sustainable and earth-friendly practices for a healthier tomorrow.Del Monte Foods, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited (Bloomberg: DELM SP, DELM PM) and is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Del Monte Canada, or Del Monte Asia Pte. Ltd. For more information about Del Monte Foods, our products, and our sustainability practices, please visit www.delmontefoods.com or www.delmonte.com.
*Source: Organic Trade Association
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