Organics Insider

Herb grower receives $1 million fine for illegal labor

A Duvall, Wash.-based organic herb operation, which ships to nearly 2,700 retailers nationwide, was fined $1 million for firing illegal immigrants, then secretly hiring them back on a night shift to avoid detection.

Global Organic plans move, expansion in Florida

A Florida organic produce wholesaler is moving into a larger facility and expects to add 62 new jobs over the next five years.

Whole Foods increases Fair Trade Haitian mango volumes

Whole Foods Market hopes to increase by 75% the number of Fair Trade Certified Haitian mangoes it sells this season.

Talley Farms launches Fresh Harvest brand

Talley Farms, Arroyo Grande, Calif., created its Fresh Harvest program to provide fresh, local produce directly to Central Coast customers.

Growers work to grow organic berry supplies

Marketers focus their efforts on conventionally grown berries, but those who handle organic berries say it is important to their product mix.

Columbia Valley Fruit joins Oneonta Starr Ranch

A new marketing partnership between Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers and Columbia Valley Fruit is effective this season, marking Oneonta’s expanded entrance into the organic apple deal.

Interrupcion touts organic, fair trade bananas

Buenos Aires, Argentina-based Interrupcion* has introduced organic- and fair trade-certified bananas under its Taste Me Do Good program.

Shipments to the U.S. are expected to double soon and reach 16,000 cartons per week, Interrupcion* announced in a news release.

Ready Pac releases new salads, parfaits at show

DALLAS — It was more than just Disney for Ready Pac Foods Inc. at United Fresh 2012.

The Irwindale, Calif., company introduced several other new products at the expo May 1-3.

In addition to the announcement of its new Disney kids’ line, Ready Pac showed several other new products.

Survey: Organic produce grows by double digits in 2011

Registering a third straight year of double-digit gains, sales of organic fruits and vegetables rose 11.7% in 2011 to $11.8 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association’s annual survey.

Earthbound Farm receives food safety improvement award

Earthbound Farm was honored with the NSF Food Safety Leadership Award for systems improvement from NSF International at the 2012 Food Safety Summit in Washington D.C.