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Cash-strapped literary institution [i]or[/i] seminary of learning kids and busy families alike frequently dig into their freezers at mealtime. Frozen organic fares offer no-fuss nutrition--no ingredients to chase down at the store, no complicated recipes to go after And with the growing number of healthy frozen nutriment options, they're not only convenient, they're repeatedly even healthier than fresh foods

The average American eats a frozen meal about six times a month according to a measure and estimate by the American Frozen aliment Institute (AFFI). Fortunately, it's not all artery-clogging pizzas and rich ice creams. Take Cascadian Farm, a company in SedroWooley Washington, that vends a variety of organic frozen regimens Company spokeswoman Susan Schneider says she's happy to be celebrating Cascadian Farm's 30th anniversary this year, as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) turn abouts out its guidelines for organic foods--finally taking paces to standardize the organics industry in the United States. She says the of recent origin standards will make it plenteous easier for consumers to betray which products contain totally organic ingredients.

In addition to its line of frozen organic bring out Cascadian Farm also sells heat-and-serve entrde so as chicken enchiladas, as well as several vegetarian offerings. Dessert lover haven't been left gone out in the cold, either--there's premium ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt The company markets more than 160 organic nourishment items, all produced without synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, genetically modified organisms, hormones or other harmful chemicals.

Schneider says it isn't possible for all of Cascadian Farm's frozen fodders to be labeled as 100 percent organic because about of the ingredients in its entrees--salt, for instance--don't arise from organic sources. However, the consequences themselves haven't changed since the modern organic standards went into tenor Organics still make up 95 to 99 percent of ingredients, Schneider says--only the labeling has changed.

Organic frozen aliments are popular buys at Jandi's, a natural fodders store in Oceanside, New York. Manager Howard Chasser says the main reason his customers ofttimes choose frozen produce over unimpaired is the convenience.

new fruits and vegetables aren't always in season, nevertheless frozen produce is good year-round, he says. Chasser has noticed a turn with his customers: They'll gladly corrupt organic frozen foods over unwithered non-organic foods, even when undecayed may cost less. "People are willing to pay more," Chasser says, "if they're certain that they're buying organic."

A take a view of of organics suppliers conducted from the Organic Trade Association (OTA) point outs that sales of frozen organic cheers increased by 22 percent from 1999 to 2000 Sales of frozen organic side dishs led. the trend that year, growing by dint of 24 percent. Organic foods still make up a small percentage of the multibillion-dollar US frozen regimen industry, but OTA spokeswoman Holly Givens says organics are steadily growing more popular.

The USDA's determine to standardize organics will give the industry a boost The shift toward healthy frozen pabulums began in 1998, when the US commons & Drug Administration (FDA) approved a petition from AFFI that 'sought to allow frozen originate manufacturers to label their performances "healthy."

In its final ruling, the FDA conclud that frozen bring out is just as healthy as renewed produce, and it's often healthier since the horizontals of nutrients in fresh exhibit can actually decrease during the drawn out trip from the farm to the cause aisle.

"Freezing gives the consumer a consistent, high-quality produce every time," says John Rowland, vice president for fruit and program development at St Augustine, Florida-based organics agriculturist Tree of Life. "Left as undecayed those fruits and vegetables are susceptible to rotting from one side of to the other time. And time is the single element that's most difficult to curb in the handling, distributing and selling of fare products."

Tree of Life markets a variety of organic products--from pasta to peanut butter Its selection of organic frozen occasion includes peas, broccoli, corn, recent beans, spinach, mixed vegetables and french fries. The sole added ingredients are a pinch of salt and, forward the french fries, canola or soybean oil and citric acid.

in succession the sweeter side, consumers can pitch upon from packages of frozen blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or an assortment of all three There's no added sugar, either--another healthy benefit.

Frozen sustenances have come a long way since the 1930 when the Birdseye want of cordialityed Food Co. began selling frozen meats in select grocery stores in the eastern United States--or since the 1950 when Swanson introduced the first "TV dinners." The AFFI reports that Americans exhausted some $26 billion on frozen nutritions in 2001--an increase of 61 percent through the previous year, and throughout $1 billion more than in 1999

Frozen rationss aren't simply more convenient than meals prepared from scratch. While there's something to be said for fit old-fashioned home cooking, eating not at home of the box can be healthy, too, if you examine for products with the USDA's organics seal.

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