(AXcess News) New York - Target Corporation said it is adding an organic food line to its super stores, racing Wal-Mart into the market. The nation's No. 2 discount retailer said it is adding the line of organic foods because of growing consumer popularity, though its major competitor, Wal-Mart, is also offering a line of organic foods.

The news of Target moving into the organic food market follows Wal-Mart's recent announcement that it would be offering organic foods to customers.

Wal-Mart plans to carry more than 400 organic items and is running an advertising campaign for those products. While Target is offering organic juices and whole-grain pizzas under its Archer Farms label along with organic produce in stores with full supermarkets, the company said.

Target operates 162 Super Targets where the organic food line will be offered to discount shoppers.

Target and Wal-Mart's move into organic foods is expected to give the nation's No. 1 retailer of natural foods, Whole Foods Market, Inc. a run for the money in those cities where Target and Wal-Mart offer organic food lines at a discount. In fact, it may be because of Whole Foods Market's growth lover the last five years, increasing sales 21%, as to why the nation's two largest discount retailers are entering the organic food market.