Cluster of organic product producers continues to grow

Some of the biggest pioneers in the natural and organic products industry have sprouted in the Boulder Valley – from WhiteWave Foods Co. Silk soy milk to Rudi’s Organic Bakery products and Celestial Seasonings Inc.’s Sleepytime tea.

In recent years, a new crop of local natural and organic companies and products have started to make the big-time nationally, including 34 Degrees’ crackers and Justin’s Nut Butter LLC’s nut butters and candy bars.

Vegetarian entrepreneur Steve Demos started the original WhiteWave tofu company in the late 1970s. But he likes to say that it was Silk soy milk flavors that were the rocketship that took the company to the moon. Demos sold White Wave to Dallas-based Dean Foods Co. in 2002. Today, the WhiteWave Foods Co. division of Dean employs sells Silk soy milk and Horizon Organic milk, among its other food products. The division employs nearly 400 at its corporate headquarters in Broomfield and 1,300 nationwide.

Ever the entrepreneur, Demos started the Boulder-based NextFoods Inc. in 1995, which produces GoodBelly, a natural probiotic fruit drink product.

Celestial Seasonings Inc. is now owned by The Hain Celestial Group Inc. in Melville, New York, but you can still go on a tour of the company’s local plant in Gunbarrel.

Grocery store shelves locally and nationally also now stock frozen food products from Phil’s Fresh Food Products LLC, doing business as Evol Foods, spiced nuts from Olomomo Nut Co. LLC, and bottled water from Eldorado Artesian Springs Inc. The Boulder-based Tri-Us Inc., owner of the mix1 sports drink got an infusion of cash in 2012 from The Hershey Co. in Pennsylvania.

Food and drink aren’t the only natural products around the Boulder Valley. Natural product retailer Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy is based in Boulder and employs about 150 people. Gaiam Inc. has become a video retailer of yoga and other healthy living products.

Boulder-based Eco-Products Inc. sells environmentally friendly business grocery and building materials mostly made out of natural products.

Boulder-based Pangea Organics produces a full line of organic body- and skin-care products.

With so many peer businesses and a healthy-minded population, the Boulder Valley continues to see a vibrant natural products scene.

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