Champions of Organic: Eden Foods
As part of our recognition of Organic Harvest Month, KIWI is celebrating pioneers of the organic movement by sharing their inspiring stories, plus their thoughts on healthy, sustainable food.
Eden Foods
In 1968, a group of friends decided they weren’t interested in the processed food products available in supermarkets—so they sought out healthier options on their own: That’s how Eden Foods was born. “We had learned a bit, and decided we didn’t want commercial food, which was full of toxins. We went about getting [healthy food] ourselves and sharing it with as many people as we could,” says Eden Foods CEO Michael Potter.
Eden Foods started out as natural foods co-op in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but word quickly spread throughout the state. The company began supplying retail health food stores in the early 1970’s, and before they knew it, had fully entered the business of natural foods distribution. “We just answered the phone…and did what we could to help those participate in the acquisition of cleaner food,” says Potter. The business grew rapidly, and by the 1980’s, Potter and company were receiving orders from mainstream grocery stores. Today, Eden is the largest (and oldest!) independent manufacturer of dry organic grocery goods in the country.
“I literally drove around country roads and knocked on farmhouse doors, and asked farmers if they would grow foods for us without chemicals. I found that some people would,” says Potter, who sees Eden’s primary contribution to the natural and organic movement as providing a market for organic growers to share their goods with consumers who want healthy food. What’s more, he doesn’t think that desire will go away any time soon. “Looking back on the grassroots movement that I’ve been a part for over forty years, I don’t see it slowing down. People want clean food, they don’t want imitation food. They don’t want adulterated food, they want food as nature intended.”
Learn more at edenfoods.com.
-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer
Tags: champions of organic, eden, organic harvest month
2 comments
Hi Kiwi and Marygrace, I wanted to add a different angle about Eden’s pioneering role into BPA-free cans. Author Nena Baker wrote a great piece about it on EWG’s Enviroblog: http://bit.ly/aPMJG. Makes me like them even more. Thanks! Lisa Frack, EWG Online Organizer
Lisa, thanks so much for sharing this article. Michael Potter didn’t mention Eden’s BPA-free cans when I spoke with him on the phone, but it’s great to know that there are companies like Eden Foods who truly care about the environment and the well-being of their customers.
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