Organic growth. (Beverage Beat).

New USDA standards for organic products went into effect last month, putting organics front and center in the news. Beverage companies have wasted no time getting the USDA stamp on their organic products. Although organics are still a very small segment of the industry, the standards will affect products in almost every beverage category, from juice to tea and coffee to dairy-based drinks, beer, wine and even soft drinks.

The national standards replace previous definitions of "organic," which were determined on a state-by-state basis and by private certifying bodies. To carry the new USDA seal, a product must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients. There are …