Though hot temperatures in Washington state orchards last summer held back organic output for the 2021 crop, Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit Co. is planning for long-term expansion of its organic program.
Watsonville, Calif.-based Lakeside Organic Gardens has entered its 26th year of growing solely organic vegetables, and strong demand is fueling continuing growth, said Marliese McWherter, marketing director.
Ocean Mist Farms is seeing strong growth in year-over-year performance of several of its organic commodities, said Katie Tossie, organic commodity account manager for the Castroville, Calif.-based marketer.
Wenatchee, Wash.-based Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers expects strong demand for organic apples and pears for the balance of the 2021-22 marketing season, said Dan Davis, director of business development.
Chelan Fresh will be heavily focused on its organic SugarBee and Rockit apple programs in the months ahead, said Kevin Stennes, organic sales manager for the Chelan Wash.-based company.
Select organic apple varieties are in outstanding position for retail promotions in the next few months, said Brianna Shales, marketing director for Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers.
A comparison of central California truck shipments of organic fresh produce in 2021 compared with 2020 showed a big gain in oranges and romaine lettuce, but lower shipments for multiple vegetables.
Los Angeles-based 4Earth Farms has launched several new organic items in the past few months, including broccoli and cauliflower florets, halved and shaved Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower rice.
November will mark an important month for Nogales, Ariz.-based grower-shipper Divine Flavor as the company transitions its organic programs from Baja to central Mexico.
The pandemic was very good for organic produce demand, and new research from Rabobank looks at the reasons behind that surge and what may be next for the sector.
Retail organic produce growth took a step back in the second quarter of 2021, but the category performance was still well ahead of conventional produce.
Wenatchee, Wash.-based Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers will be fully transitioned to the company’s HiC2 recyclable pouch bag in the coming season, said Dan Davis, director of business development.
While the U.S. West Coast has long been dominant for organic demand, marketers surveyed by The Packer offered a diversity of answers about regions with above-trend growth in organic demand.
Comparisons with the pandemic year of 2020 are difficult to make, but most organic marketers see continuing momentum for organics in 2021 after COVID-19 set new records for retail sales.
Near double-digit growth in organic sales highlighted retail sales in the first quarter of 2021, according to a new report from the Organic Produce Network and Category Partners.
The organic produce category continues to see growth thanks to a devoted group of core shoppers, high interest among younger generations, and the perception that organic is healthier than conventional.
Amado, Ariz.-based Wholesum is increasing its volume of organic butternut, acorn and spaghetti hard squashes this season, said Joanna Jaramillo, marketing specialist.
Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Awe Sum Organics will keep customers supplied with high-quality organic table grapes for loading on both coasts during the winter months, said David Posner, president and CEO.
Not only does Nature Fresh Farms grow a wide selection of certified organic and conventional peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes in more than 200 acres of high-tech greenhouses, but it grows them sustainably.
4Earth Farms has been shoring up resources and expanding its supply deals as it strives to maintain momentum and support its customers, said Mark Munger, vice president of sales and marketing.
With plenty of high-flavor apples available this season Stemilt Growers LLC wants to work with retailers to put together “big, bold promotions” on organics.
Organically grown products and sustainable packaging should go hand in hand, so many organic growers, shippers and distributors are launching programs to reduce the use of plastics.
Growing organic strawberries has never been easy for Florida farmers, but the task got a lot more challenging in late December, when a fungus called Pestalotiopsis took hold in some of the state’s berry fields.
West Mexico provides a large amount of the fruits and vegetables consumed in the U.S. each winter, and that includes an ever-expanding selection of organic produce.