Here's How Muir Glen Got Its Name

If you're familiar with the brand Muir Glen, you may have tasted their organic and canned tomatoes, pasta and pizza sauces, and salsas. Made from Californian-grown tomatoes that are harvested late in summer, these flavorful fruits don't contain any synthetic pesticides and are packaged without any synthetic chemical additives (per Muir Glen). The journey of the tomatoes from the field to the can is surprisingly short, too: in just eight hours (or less) the tomatoes go from the vine to the can, ensuring the freshest taste possible (if you're looking for the freshest, try whole peeled tomatoes).

As for the name of the brand, the 'glen' part means a secluded, narrow valley, per Merriam-Webster. This may be a nod to the San Joaquin Valley of California, where the tomatoes are grown. "Muir" may seem familiar as well, especially if you are a rock climber, mountaineer, or a fan of national parks as well.

Born near Edinburgh in 1838, John Muir emigrated to America at the age of 10 and had a lifelong fascination and respect for nature and wildlife, according to the John Muir Trust. His passion was so deep that he wrote extensively about wild places and proposed the idea that nature was not a resource for humans to exploit and dominate, but rather that humans were a part of nature. As a result of his influence, several national parks were created, including the famous Yosemite Valley.

Muir Glen bears his name well; the organic tomato sauce brand has strong principles, and to honor them, the brand partners with Xerces Society to protect the increasingly endangered bees, makes efforts to support farmers who aim to regenerate natural resources, and has donated $50,000 to the California Fire Foundation. So the next time you pick up a can of Muir Glen tomatoes, you can consider it furthering John Muir's cause.