Nell Newman

Nell Newman lives in Santa Cruz, California.She is an environmentalist and an ardent supporter of sustainable agriculture For some years she worked as biologist in fundraising institutions, until 1993, when she launched Newman’s Own Organics. Her work in organic food was inspired by her childhood in rural Connecticut, where she ate vegetables from her mother’s garden and made pies of apples picked from the trees. When she was a young girl she use to go to a farmer’s market with her father, in Westport, Connecticut where she lived
"We buy fresh vegetables and fresh fruits. I love to see people go to farmer’s market, buy food that has just been fresh picked", she says.

By the way, her parents besides being great cooks, are also the great actors Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.

When we arrived at Newman's Own Organics' office in Aptos (20 minutes from Santa Cruz), we met a beautiful young woman, whose blue eyes are frank and clear enough to eliminate every ceremony. Concerned about the weather (it was supposed to rain that afternoon), Nell took us during the morning to the Center of Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems which is located at the University of California.Santa Cruz.

Click here
for the Center

Newman's Own Organics also supports the Center of Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems and Nell watches very closely its activities.

During our visit to the Center, Nell spoke about the road that took her towards organics.

At the age of thirteen she took knowledge that some birds, including the peregrin falcon (then her favourite bird) were near extinction from DDT pesticides.That discovery, plus her healthy head start (a hereditary predisposition to eat well) led her choose College of the Atlantic, in Bar Harbor, Maine, devoted to human ecology

After a job in Environment Defense Fund in New York, her country soul asked for nature and she moved to California, where she developed a friendship with Alice Waters, Chez Panisse restaurant's owner. "With Alice Waters I had the unquestionable proof that organic food doesn't have to taste like "health food" .As a matter of fact, organic food taste better."Great tasting products that happen to be organic" is Newman's Own Organic's slogan.

Nell , at the Center of Agroecology,
shows Santa Cruz bay

PO - And when you decided to launch Newman's Own Organic?

NN - "I didn't want anymore to raise money to help environment. I wanted instead to develop a career that would allow me tho give money away to the same cause. After much research, my partner Peter Meehan and me opened Newman's Own Organic by introducing our own brand of organic pretzels."

PO - Why pretzels first?

Newman's Own Organic
first product
were pretzels

NN - " First because in the early 90s pretzels were booming in the snack market.Second because pretzels are made from few ingredients, all available organically, and , last, but not least, pretzels are Paul Newman's favourite snack"

PO - Speaking of Paul Newman, how did you convince him to get into organic food division?

NN- "He didn't exactly know what organic was.So I decided to make him taste an organic meal.I flew home for Thanksgiving with a suitcase of organic produce and I cooked a dinner for my family without mentioning in advance that the entire meal ( the turkey and stuffing, the mashed potatoes and butter, the peas, salad and pumpkin pie) was made with organic ingredients. Afterward I asked my dad: "How did you like your organic Thanksgiving dinner? He had a suprised look on his face and, smiling, he said: "It was really good!"

After the pretzel many other products came, and like her father's products, Newman's Own Organic also gives away all after-tax profits, every year, to a long list of programs, including Organic Farming Research Foundation, whose Executive Director, Bob Scowcroft she introduced us. By the end of last year , the organics division - which represents about 7 per cent of the parent company’s sales- will have donated $1 million to more than 30 non profit groups.

Click here
for OFRF

After visiting the Center,.we had lunch in a charming restaurant just behind Santa Cruz Bookstore (another charming place to be!). Having finished our tasty organic salads, Nell walked with us through Santa Cruz and took us to a supermarket where she recomended an organic wine Bonterra. We bought it and tasted it later. Delicious!

"I think that food is something that has to taste good. and organic food taste better. If you are concern about health, you don’t want to have pesticides on your food. If people knew about fungicides and all other chemicals that are used to grow their food they would be horrified." said Nell during our stroll in Santa Cruz.

Nell is very concious of the price she is paying, when she gives up part of he private life .But at the same time, she knows she a has a mission.She has been present in many panels recently, talking about her commitment to organic products that appel to the general public.
"One of my biggest concerns is the lack of standatization in testing GMOs. Anoher concern is what size buffer zone is sufficient between an organic and a GM field. There is so much to fight for..." says Nell.

After a whole day guiding us, we thanked her for taking her time with us and asked her to say something about the portal Planeta Organico. Here is what she said:
"I am very impressed with your web site, and most of all, with your effort to educate people about the organic concept.I hope you do continue in this purpose, because to spread the correct information is a key hole to protect the environment.Congratulations!"

Nell Newman seems detemined to continue her path, never putting behing her surfing, when she has an opportunity to. Clever girl. It was a pleasure to meet Nell Newman for us. We hope it has been a pleasure for you too.

Nell Newman and Maria Beariz Martins Costa
(Planeta Orgânico's VP)

To know more about Newman's Own Organics visit the web site
www.newmansownorganics.com