Cascadian Farms/Small Planet Foods
General Mills purchased Small Planet Foods—which owns organic brand Cascadian Farm and makes Muir Glen products—in 2000. Cascadian Farms makes cereals, jams, and juices; Muir Glen specializes in tomato products.
Kashi Cereal
The Kellogg food company acquired Kashi, which makes cereals, frozen foods, and snacks, in 2000. Kellogg also owns Morningstar Farms and Bear Naked juices.
Knudsen and Santa Cruz Organic
The jam and jelly giant Smuckers acquired Knudsen in 1984 and Santa Cruz Organic in 1989.
Back to Nature
In 2004, Kraft Foods, the brand that brings us Oreos and Kool-Aid, purchased Back to Nature, which offers such products as granola, crackers, and nuts. One of the reasons I try to avoid Kraft products is because until recently they were a subsidiary of the Altria Group, which also owns Phillip Morris, one of the largest cigarette companies in the world. Connecting the dots from granola to a pack of Marlboros may be a stretch, but they are connected, and they’re a conglomerate I’d personally rather not support. Kraft also owns Boca Burger, the makers of vegetarian burgers, and Balance Bars.
While large scale doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve changed their product or commitment to being organic, it might mean those quaint stories you read on the back of the label are a bit deceiving. If you’re interested in buying organic products that aren’t produced in a large scale factory or shipped across the world to reach your dinner plate, the easiest way to ensure you’re getting local and environmentally sound food is to shop at farmer’s markets, support small producers near your home (like dairies, cheese producers, or bread companies that make their products on site), and get to know where your food comes from.
Updated April 15, 2011
