QUEST SUPPLIES DRIED ORGANIC FOODS

LYNN KUNTZ

MEDFORD, Ore. -- Repercussions from recent reports of pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables were minimal when compared with the Alar scare.

However, processors looking for organic ingredients to avoid the recurring pesticide issue can turn to Quest International's Fruit and Vegetable Products division. It supplies several organically grown and processed, dehydrated vegetable products -- tomato, sweet corn and black bean. It plans to add lentil and pumpkin to the list.

Quest's processing facility here is certified organic under Oregon's Tilth standards for organic products. According to Shawn Simonin, product application and development technologist, the products are typically custom-manufactured to meet customers' requirements.

"They often identify particular suppliers with organically grown raw materials, which we can process because of our plant certification," Simonin said. "We currently manufacture these products in flake form by request. But we could manufacture a powder, or produce an organic tomato ingredient with chunks, for example," said Simonin.