Kalsec Achieves Organic Certification

13 Jan 2016 --- Kalsec announces that its Denver City, TX plant, has achieved organic certification by Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO).  The documentation meets the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) and European Union standards.

Kalsec is headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan and only last year was this manufacturing facility organic certified by OTCO, now its Denver City, TX plant has followed suit.

Kalsec has been the leading global producer of natural spice and herb flavor extracts, natural colors, natural antioxidants, and advanced hop products for the food and beverage industry for over fifty years. The organic certification comes after Kalsec's consistent, high-quality, innovative ingredient solutions which ensure products look and taste better, and last even longer.

FoodIngredientsFirst spoke to Kalsec's president and chief operating officer, Scott Nykaza: “Achieving these organic certifications gives us the ability to expand our naturally-sourced ingredient portfolio to meet the increasing demand for cleaner label ingredients. This is an accomplishment of which all of our employees can be proud.”

The Denver City, TX facility specializes in the cultivation, harvest, dehydration and extraction of paprika, rosemary and carrot, as well as specialty herbs and spices. The facility leads the industry in innovative natural ingredient and sustainable processing practices with the manufacture of expeller pressed spice and herb extracts. Included in the expeller pressed product line are specialty pepper extracts such as ancho, capsicum, cayenne, chipotle, ghost, guajillo, habanero, jalapeno and pasilla.

According to Innova Market Insights, almost one of ten global new packaged food and beverages made an organic claim last year. The Organic Trade Association indicated sales of organic food and non-food products in the United States broke through another record in 2014, totaling $39.1 billion, up 11.3 percent from the previous year.

Executive Director of Kalsec, Gary Augustine told FoodIngredientsFirst how Kalsec plan to keep up with organic growth trends: “We will continue to follow consumer and customer interest through the Organic Trade Association. In addition, we monitor restaurant activity and new product development activities in packaged goods. We believe the interest level will continue to increase for clear label and it will be driven by key consumer packaged good companies. The recent announcement by Campbell Soup to begin labeling GM ingredients is an example.”

Augustine on the future of Kalsec: “Organic certification gives Kalsec the ability to offer our customers more options as to how to provide cleaner labels for their customers. We intend to keep up with global demand by continuing to work with our supply chain and our long-term farmer and supplier relationships.”

by Elizabeth Kenward

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