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A natural evolution: as natural and organic pre-portioned meats evolve, they are mirroring industry-wide demands for convenience, stronger flavors and food-safety innovations.

Article Excerpt
Currently, the demand for convenient natural and organic product is on the rise, and the pre-portioned meat and deli categories are reflecting that with several new product innovations.

According to research from New York-based Datamonitor, the anticipated growth rate for natural and organic meats is expected to reach 134 percent by 2009. As natural and organic pre-portioned meats evolve, they are mirroring industry-wide trends of convenience, stronger flavors, improved packaging and food-safety innovations.

Indeed, the $14 billion organic food category shows no signs of slowing down. Organic meat, in particular, is one of its stars. In 2005, the most recent year the Organic Trade Association has figures on the category, organic sausage and deli meats represented $30 million in retail sales, a 40 percent increase from 2004, while organic meat grew 55.4 percent, says Holly Givens, public affairs advisor for the Organic Trade Association (OTA), based in Greenfield, Mass.

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Consumers are not alone in their interest in naturals and organics. Restaurateurs also are looking for high-quality products that can save them time and money, says Hudson Riehle, vice president of research & information services, National Restaurant Association, based in Washington, D.C.,...

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