Evergreen : Behind The Label With Biona Organic
Looking to move to organic eating? Biona Organic is one of the most popular and well-known food brands that we stock here in Evergreen. With over 400 products and a commitment to organic, ethical and sustainable food each of their products has 100% traceability, ingredients of the highest standard, and are suitable for vegetarians and often vegans too!
Where did Biona Organic originate?
In the 1970s on the west coast of Ireland, co-founder Noel McDonald had been learning to live off the land and he moved to London to open one of the country’s earliest organic focused shops: After meeting fellow organic advocate Donata Berger the pair went on to found the UK’s first organic company, Windmill Organics. In 1992, they created a brand they would be proud to stock - all about purely organic, ethically and sustainably sourced food. They named it Biona: Bio being the root of the word for ‘organic’ in many languages, and na from ‘nature’.
What products to Biona produce?
It all started with granola (the original recipe still stands today!), and the range has steadily expanded to include organic basics such as sustainably-grown Italian chopped tomatoes and haricot beans through to speciality ingredients, such as their all-natural coconut milk, made from sun-drenched coconuts, ethically grown on biodiverse organic farms.
What does Biona Organic stand for?
Biona's mission is to make it easy for people to choose food that’s good for you and great for the planet. All Biona products are grown on organic land to the highest welfare and environmental standards. This results in premium quality, nutrient-packed ingredients, but also enhanced - rather than depleted - soil quality. Buying organic foods also
- Keeps waterways free from chemical leaching.
- Protects wildlife
- Provides food you can trust, that’s free from GMO, preservatives and artificial pesticides
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
- Provides greater biodiversity
- Gives soil healthy enough to feed the world for generations to come.
Still a proudly family-owned business (like ourselves!), Biona doesn't use air freight in its logistics (flying can produce up to 50 times more carbon dioxide emissions compared to sea freight!) and its headquarters are run on 100% renewable energy. Nearly 70% of the Biona range is produced with renewable energy, too and packaging is being updated all the time to offer products in glass jars, cardboard and paper
Here are some of our Biona favourites at Evergreen.
Biona Organic Squeezy Ketchup
Did you know ketchup was originally sold as a medicine? It was formulated into tablets and sold as a solution for indigestion, until we found that it was much better suited as a delicious condiment, and it is now a staple of many dinner tables. Biona’s ketchup is one of their best selling items, as not only does it have a clean ingredient list (tomato puree, raw cane sugar, vinegar, salt, spices) but it is made with sugar as opposed to corn syrup or synthetic sugars – creating a delightfully sweet yet savoury sauce. Not a ketchup fan? Why not try Biona Organic Worcestershire Sauce.
Biona Rye Breads
A wheat-free and tasty bread, Biona offer a large list of options of rye breads – plain, with sunflower seeds, sprouted seeds, pumpkin seeds… the options keep going. All of these are delicious, soft and moist, ideal served with any toppings be they sweet or savoury. You can toast these for an added crunch, and spread with sliced banana and Biona almond butter to create a filling and easy snack; or why not top with Biona’s baked beans!
Biona’s Sweets
These are all gluten free, and gelatine free – so ideal for vegans who are missing those gummy sweets! Tutti Frutti Gums, Jelly Dinos and Sour Snakes; you’re guaranteed to find something to satisfy your sweet tooth! If you aren’t a fan of the chewy sweets, Biona also have their bright and delicious lollipops, chock full of natural sweetness.
Biona’s Tinned Goods & Pasta
The list could be almost endless, but if you are looking for a tinned item and you want to be organic, ethical and sustainable then the Biona options are for you. The range offers extensive beans – mixed, black, haricot, butter, pinto; as well as plenty of lentils – green, puy, and white chickpeas. You can pick up baked beans, and chopped or whole plum tomatoes to bulk up the amazing Biona Passata! Biona also offer various pastas in a spelt form as opposed to wheat based – spaghetti, fusilli, and penne, as well as spelt lasagne sheets.
