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Oprah trademarking her own organic food line

It seems that conquering daytime television just wasn't enough for the big "O". As the owner of her own television network that sports her name, a magazine that sports her visage on the cover every month, and the coveted top spot on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list, you'd think at the age of 58, Oprah might be ready to start chillaxing.

But you'd be wrong, for chillaxing is simply not the Oprah way, and so instead of taking up knitting, word has it that Oprah may be entering the organic food business.

That's right, organics. We're talking carrots, apples and leafy greens.

Earlier this week, the New York Post reported they had discovered applications to the US Patent and Trademark Organization for Oprah-related brand names, including "Oprah's Organics", "Oprah's Harvest" and "Oprah's Farm."

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According to Forbes, Oprah has applied to make: organic salad dressing; organic sauces; organic beverages; frozen organic vegetables; organic soups; organic snack dips. And even catering services.

Her list of organic beauty products includes: bar soaps; bath and shower gels; bath oils; bath salts; bubble bath; massage oils; non-medicated skin care preparations for the face and body, namely, cleansers, toners, moisturizers, creams, lotions, oils, scrubs and masks; lip balms; sunscreens; eye creams; hand lotions; hand creams; hair care preparations, namely shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, hair gels, hair mousse and hair oils.

Apparently Oprah is a big lover of Hawaii, and has owned a farm on Maui for some time. She's also reportedly been buying up properties on the island for about a decade. Is this where Oprah will start her organic foods empire?

Oprah's clearly had a huge impact on the media industry. Will her arrival on the organics scene shake things up?

"I think the organic community is doing quite well in terms of growth, and consumer acceptance," says John Henning, an associate professor at McGill University and the program director of the Agricultural Economics Department.

"Having Oprah involved probably will make no difference, although it is positive in terms of perception."

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Henning says that although she's a media celebrity, Oprah owning a farm and having a line of organic products is unlikely to have a large impact on the organics industry, as it is already quite well-established in North America.

"She is a bit late in the game, although it is never too late to become involved in organic farming, so I welcome the idea that she has decided to become involved in producing organic food," says Henning. "She has the means to do this."

Right now, the official line from the Oprah people is that the trademarks "were filed for Oprah's farm on Maui to enable the farm to grow and distribute produce on Maui and throughout the Hawaiian Island", but Forbes draws the logical conclusion that "It seems unlikely…that someone with Winfrey's reach and influence would go to the effort of filing extensive trademarks only to confine her new organic food business to Hawaii."

After all, Oprah has never been known for small thinking.