• The Washington Post, Wednesday, June 4, 2008 10:15 AM

Organic to Go, a Seattle company founded in 2004, is taking the Whole Foods prepared-food concept out of the grocery store and into places where people work and spend their days. On Tuesday, it purchased High Noon's four cafes in the Washington, D.C., area, as well as its catering operation, and plans to turn the lunch hot spots into places where office workers can devour a meatloaf sandwich made with organic beef.

More than 76% of the people in a recent poll by the National Restaurant Association said they are trying to eat out more healthfully than they were two years ago. Another survey by the organization -- this one of U.S. chefs-- showed the No. 2 and No. 3 hottest trends were locally grown and organic produce, respectively, after bite-size desserts.

Valerie Killifer, editor of Fast Casual magazine, which focuses on restaurants serving quick meals, says consumer interest in eateries that serve nutritious food fast is poised to expand quickly. "Right now it's just on the ground level," she said, "but the opportunity is only going to grow." The four High Noon restaurants bring Organic to Go's total cafe count to 33, including outposts in and around Seattle, San Diego and Los Angeles.

Read the whole story at The Washington Post »