Grower’s Organic LLC has added a new manager to help direct the company’s continued growth.
Bruno Dispoto is the new purchasing director for Denver-based Grower’s Organic, said Sarah Bennett, assistant to company co-owner Brian Freeman.
The move comes at a time when Grower’s Organic, which supplies organic fruits and vegetables to customers in Colorado, New Mexico and Kansas City, Mo., is trying to keep up with the roughly 30% growth in organic sales in its distribution area.
“In times of economic recession, we have been growing,” Bennett said. “As people become more educated and aware of organics, the demand continues to increase.”
While growth is steady across the board, Grower’s Organic is keeping a particularly keen eye on the restaurant industry in Colorado, New Mexico and Kansas City.
“We see the most opportunities for growth in the foodservice industry,” Bennett said. “More and more people are interested in restaurants that offer fresh food, organic food and vegetarian and vegan options.”
Grower’s Organic’s website includes a feature that allows users to enter their zip codes to find an organic restaurant in their area.
Avocados, tomatoes, fennel and sunchokes rank among the company’s top produce commodities.
Grower’s Organic was founded by three organic produce industry veterans: Freeman, who worked for Wild Oats Markets; Paul New, of White Mountain Farm; and Brian Wheeler, of Alberts Organics.
Dispoto’s extensive experience in the produce industry will help Grower’s Organic continue to grow to keep up with rising demand, Bennett said.
Most recently, Dispoto worked for eight months in Great Britain on behalf of a major retailer, identifying market opportunities in the organic produce industry.
Before that, he worked as a buyer for Kalispell-based Montana Vistas LLC, distributors of a full line of organic fruits and vegetables.
Before joining Montana Vistas, he owned his own produce brokerage in Yuma, Ariz.
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