Naturally Speaking

Nell Newman, together with her business partner Peter Meehan, launched the organics division of Newman's Own in 1993. Nell is the daughter of actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. .

Nell convinced her father to let her establish Newman's Own Organics by using her interest in organic food and sustainable agriculture to create a completely organic Thanksgiving dinner for him. The rest is history. Newman’s Own Organics entered the marketplace by launching an organic pretzel. It didn’t take long before this pretzel became the top selling organic pretzel in the natural food market. As demand grew for organic products, so did Nell’s product line. Newman’s Own Organics now include over 80 different items including Fig Newman’s, Chocolate Cups, Pop’s Corn, Coffee, Dried Fruit, and Olive Oil & Vinegar. "All of our products are ones that Dad enjoys, so I develop recipes that he really loves and can be proud of," states Nell. There is also a special line of products for dogs and cats.

Nell’s expertise is in organics. She is also an ardent supporter of sustainable agriculture and frequently appears on panels talking about her commitment to organic products that appeal to the general public. An excellent cook, Nell is closely involved with product development and final choices for product formulation. "I have great expectations for our company, pretzels were just the beginning," says Nell. "My niche is to support the environment through the growth of organic agriculture."

Since establishing Newman’s Own in 1982, Paul Newman has donated over $200 million to various charities. For more information on the organics division and its products, please visit www.newmansownorganics.com .

We asked Nell a few questions about herself and the company she holds dear to her heart. Here’s what she had to say:

The Healthy Shopper’s Interview with Nell Newman

Q: How did you start Newman’s Own Organics?

A: As I became aware of the advantages of organic food, I started talking with my father about adding an organic line to Newman’s Own. He still thought of organic food as the “hippy-dippy” dishes my mom experimented with in the sixties. I’m the family cook for holiday meals whenever I’m visiting, so one Thanksgiving, I decided to give Pop his expected traditional Thanksgiving feast -- but with a twist – this time it was going to be an organic one. I flew home with an ice chest of organic foods from my favorite local sources, including an organic turkey. My mother and sisters were in on the conspiracy and we all kept it from my father. As per usual, he enjoyed my cooking and commented on how good everything was. When we told him the entire meal was organic, he was floored. Luckily, dad was quick to see the times had definitely changed and he did, too.

He decided to fund my business partner, Peter Meehan, and me for the next year to research the organic industry and decide on an initial project. He also expected us to pay him back his initial loan -- which we did -- at the end of our first year in business. And so Newman’s Own Organics was born. We started the company with a line of organic pretzels, which were dad’s favorite snack, and they continue to be one of our most popular items even today.

Q; How and when did you become interested in ecology?

A: Growing up I liked fishing -- which I was introduced to by Pop, and growing my own food. My mom let me rip up a huge chunk of our backyard, where I grew all kinds of things. I found they tasted so much better than what you could find at the supermarket.

I have always loved birds of prey and I was even frustrated I couldn’t fly myself. When I was ten years old, I learned that my favorite bird, the peregrine falcon, was on the verge of extinction because of the applications of DDT. This was an extremely difficult concept for me to understand at that age. It did, though, make me much more aware of the environment. A couple of years later, I appeared in a documentary called “Eagle and the Hawk,” which a director friend of the family worked up because of my interest in birds. We filmed it in Idaho and it was about birds wounded for sport and the efforts to rehabilitate them. The documentary aired on national TV, and as a result reduced the number of injured birds brought into the vet hospital in Boise to zero. This really showed me the result of getting behind an issue.

Later when I was working in Northern California at the Bird Research Group, we found that many of the peregrine falcon eggs weren’t hatching because of they contained manmade contaminants. Out of curiosity, several of us in the group decided to have our own blood tested to see if it contained the same contaminants. I was stunned to find out my blood showed traces of PCB, DDT, and chlordane -- a banned termite pesticide. What really surprised me is at that time my diet was about 75% organic. Because of this incident, I was even more determined to do something positive for the environment.

Q: How do you maintain balance in your life?

A: This is a hard question because balance is tough to find. However, I do my best to maintain balance by working primarily from a home office, which gives me some flexibility. I take some time to go outside, check on my chickens, see how the garden is doing, and then come back inside. I make a point of exercising every day, as it regenerates me for coming back and getting work done. My husband and I both enjoy surfing and taking advantage of the beautiful area we live in.

I recognize that each day will bring new surprises and opportunities and I want to be open to them.

Q: Having created an organic division to Newman’s Own, do you only eat organic foods?

A: I’m very fortunate to live in an area where I have easy access to a wide variety of organic products both in the local farmers markets and in the grocery stores. Actually, I refer to myself as a “flexitarian”. When I travel I’m not always able to get organic foods, but I try and order healthy items. That’s one reason that at Newman’s Own Organics we chose so many products that were our favorites as kids, but make them better by using organic ingredients. Cookies aren’t health foods, but they don’t have to be full of additives, hydrogenated fats, and unpronounceable ingredients. In general, though, I eat nutrient-rich foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, but also eat some meat, poultry, and fish. I do have some food passions that wouldn’t be high on the healthy list and I don’t feel guilty indulging in them once in awhile. If a friend has prepared a wonderful meal for me, I’m not going to scrutinize the ingredients. It’s more fun to enjoy the food and the friend. That’s what makes the meal special.

Q: How and when did you become interested in natural and organic foods?

A: My interest didn’t come with an “ah-ha” moment, it was more of a natural evolution. I grew up with a garden and some apple trees. My mom taught me to cook and we used many of the products we grew. We had our own chickens whose eggs went into what we baked and ate. There were farm stands near us in Connecticut. As a child growing up, I knew what freshly grown and harvested products tasted like. As I grew older, I learned how the way so much of our food is produced is a major threat to the environment. My interest became more than searching for foods that tasted better to me - it was also my way of making a difference for the environment.