Goya Foods, Beech-Nut Nutrition to make baby food for Hispanic families

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. — Beech-Nut Nutrition and Goya Foods have made a deal to produce baby foods for Hispanic families, Beech-Nut announced.

"One-fourth of all births in America today are to Hispanics, so that any company hoping to grow their business must take their needs and tastes into account," Beech-Nut president Jeff Boutelle said.

The companies said the partnership was part of Goya's commitment to the Obama administration's My Plate/Mi Plato nutritional initiative. The new Beech-Nut/Goya line will include 22 specially developed Latin flavors and combinations, including guava, mango, apple-mango, banana-strawberry, rice pudding with raisins and others. The line is expected to hit stores throughout the country by the end of June.

"The Beech-Nut/Goya line of baby food offers mom the best of both worlds," Goya president Bob Unanue said. "Hispanic moms, influenced by their abuelitas, oftentimes believe that healthy, traditional baby food can only be made at home using fresh ingredients. Their challenge is that they simply don't have the time to cook from scratch the way their grandmothers did, and that's where Beech-Nut/Goya comes in. Our new line of baby food is the perfect union that bridges Hispanic mothers' desire for healthy, traditional baby food with their need for convenience and nutrition in today's hectic world."