Latest News From Organic

Circana lead discusses how to connect with the conscious consumer
Circana lead discusses how to connect with the conscious consumer

Alex Kalausich, produce lead for the fresh foods group at Circana, kicked off this year's Global Organic Produce Expo with a look at fresh produce trends and how those trends apply specifically to the organic market.

GOPEX panel breaks down the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule
GOPEX panel breaks down the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule

With the USDA's Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule going into effect March 19, Organic Trade Association co-CEO Matt Dillon led a panel discussion to help attendees understand actionable items ahead of enforcement.

Groups invest more than $632K to advance organic farming
Groups invest more than $632K to advance organic farming

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and The Organic Center say the awards fund much-needed training, technical support and innovative climate research.

Stemilt Growers shares organic promotion ideas for spring
Stemilt Growers shares organic promotion ideas for spring

With ample supply and Earth Day nearing, the Wenatchee, Wash.-based packer, grower and distributor is offering tips on how retailers can capitalize on the growing interest in the organic category.

What’s trending in organic produce
What’s trending in organic produce

Here's what recent retail sales show and what experts see shaping 2024.

Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 4
Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 4

From salmon to salad kits and from table grapes to organic berries, here's some of what was seen and heard at this year's Global Organic Produce Expo.

Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 5
Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 5

Take a virtual booth visit with some exhibitors at Global Organic Produce Expo 2024.

Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 3
Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 3

Global Organic Produce Expo exhibitors share the highlights of their booth displays at the show.

Progressive Produce celebrates health and wellness with its organic lineup
Progressive Produce celebrates health and wellness with its organic lineup

Los Angeles-based Progressive Produce is highlighting its commitment to health and wellness through its Nature's Bounty Organic program.

Honeybear Brands unveils organic Pazazz apples
Honeybear Brands unveils organic Pazazz apples

Pazazz apples are now available to retailers and shoppers as an organic option exclusively from Elgin, Minn.-based Honeybear Brands.

Scenes from GOPEX 2024 launch parties
Scenes from GOPEX 2024 launch parties

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — GOPEX 2024 kicked off Jan. 22 with a poolside gathering at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, followed by dinner and drinks aboard a luxury yacht on Fort Lauderdale's intracoastal waterway.

New Sprout Organic Farms goes full circle with new owners
New Sprout Organic Farms goes full circle with new owners

A husband and wife whose farm was the first to partner with New Sprout Organic Farms recently purchased the North Carolina-based company, which now has a network of 10 growers.

Masser Family of Companies gears up for GOPEX 
Masser Family of Companies gears up for GOPEX 

The grower-packer-shipper of potatoes says it will display its potato products and have executives on hand discuss its farming and supply chain practices at its Global Organic Produce Expo booth.

USDA report examines organic’s growth over 20 years
USDA report examines organic’s growth over 20 years

Two decades after the USDA published its final organic farming rules, the industry has experienced tremendous growth.

Retailers say organic off to strong start
Retailers say organic off to strong start

Buoyed by renewed interest in healthy produce, retailers say organic produce sales continue to grow and seem poised to continue throughout the year.

Survey shows consumer preferences for organic strawberry purchases
Survey shows consumer preferences for organic strawberry purchases

One detail from The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 survey shows that younger consumers were the most frequent purchasers of organic strawberries exclusively. 

USDA awards nearly $10M in Organic Market Development Grants
USDA awards nearly $10M in Organic Market Development Grants

The grant-funded projects will support the development and expansion of new and existing organic markets to increase the consumption of domestic organic agricultural products.

Survey: Nearly 1 in 5 consumers report purchasing organic spinach exclusively
Survey: Nearly 1 in 5 consumers report purchasing organic spinach exclusively

Organic spinach has proven to be an essential ingredient in a successful modern produce department. Here's what The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 survey learned from produce shoppers' responses.

USDA says organic vegetable imports mixed, exports down in 2023
USDA says organic vegetable imports mixed, exports down in 2023

Exports and imports of organic fresh vegetables showed varying trends in the past year, according to USDA statistics.

GOPEX 2024: Where fresh produce and  conscious consumerism meet
GOPEX 2024: Where fresh produce and conscious consumerism meet

How does the fresh produce industry earn the business and sustain the trust of today’s conscious consumers committed to responsible purchasing? GOPEX 2024 will explore this with industry leaders across the supply chain.

Here's how organic tomato purchases are trending, according to a consumer survey
Here's how organic tomato purchases are trending, according to a consumer survey

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 shows that the percentage of consumers who said they purchased organic tomatoes exclusively continues to rise.

CMI notes strong growth in branded organic apple sales
CMI notes strong growth in branded organic apple sales

The Wenatchee, Wash.-based company is reporting major growth in branded organic apple sales dollars and more promotion opportunities ahead.

Survey: Organic cucumber demand continues to move higher
Survey: Organic cucumber demand continues to move higher

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 reports that 13% of consumers said they shop for organic cucumbers exclusively, and 1 in 3 consumers reported purchasing organic cucumbers at least periodically. 

Organic Fresh Trends: More carrot consumers report buying organic exclusively
Organic Fresh Trends: More carrot consumers report buying organic exclusively

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 survey found that 17% of consumers said they shopped for organic carrots exclusively.

Organic Fresh Trends: What shoppers and the numbers say about blueberries
Organic Fresh Trends: What shoppers and the numbers say about blueberries

Organic blueberry sales and volume were both up in 2022, according to retail numbers from Circana.

Organic Fresh Trends: Demand for organic avocados continues to rise
Organic Fresh Trends: Demand for organic avocados continues to rise

Data from Circana shows retail organic avocado sales topped $162.4 million in 2022, up 2.8% from 2021.

National Organic Program wants to streamline its information collection
National Organic Program wants to streamline its information collection

The National Organic Program wants feedback on proposed changes to the way the program collects information. These changes will help avoid collecting redundant information and streamline information collection.

University receives grant to help storage of organic potatoes
University receives grant to help storage of organic potatoes

Oregon State University researchers have been awarded $2 million from the USDA to develop improved ways of preventing stored potatoes from sprouting, particularly in the organic sector.

Apples account for nearly 9% of organic produce sales
Apples account for nearly 9% of organic produce sales

Apples are an organic powerhouse in the fresh produce department. Learn why in this story from The Packer's Organic Fresh Trends 2024.

The Organic Center and Organic Voices to present ‘Organic Oscars’
The Organic Center and Organic Voices to present ‘Organic Oscars’

The Organic Center and Organic Voices are hosting the 2024 Organic Gala at Natural Products Expo West on March 13 in Anaheim, Calif.

Organically Grown Co. gives over $200,000 through grant program
Organically Grown Co. gives over $200,000 through grant program

Portland, Ore.-based Organically Grown Co. has announced that more than $200,000 in grants will be awarded to organizations that align with their mission to grow the organic agriculture movement.

CMI Orchards touts expanded organic selection after partnership
CMI Orchards touts expanded organic selection after partnership

CMI Orchards’ recent partnership with Starr Ranch Growers adds exceptional organic fruit to an already impressive portfolio, says Rochelle Bohm, vice president of marketing for the Wenatchee, Wash.-based marketer.

Advocates rally around bipartisan organic standards bill
Advocates rally around bipartisan organic standards bill

A new bill seeks raise the bar for organic standards by upping accountability and establishing a period every five years for reviewing and revising regulations.

Organic produce sales still on the rise in spite of inflation
Organic produce sales still on the rise in spite of inflation

Despite higher food prices, consumers who typically include at least some organic fruits and vegetables in their grocery carts are not giving up on the category — and some are increasing their purchases.

Pier_A_4[1]_imports
U.S. organic imports surge during past decade

U.S. organic fresh produce imports experienced roughly 400% growth for selected commodities from 2012-13 to 2022-23.

Organic still more of a speciality in the St. Louis market, distributors say
Organic still more of a speciality in the St. Louis market, distributors say

Storage sheds may not be bursting at the seams with organic produce in the St. Louis area, but it’s available if you look hard enough.

Organic produce sales and volume edge up again in Q3, says report
Organic produce sales and volume edge up again in Q3, says report

In the third quarter of 2023, organic outpaced conventional produce sales, seeing a 2% increase and a 1.9% rise in volume, according to the latest Organic Produce Performance Report.

Stemilt Growers offers big volume of organic apple and pear favorites
Stemilt Growers offers big volume of organic apple and pear favorites

Stemilt Growers produces nearly 30% of its apples and about 15% of its pears organically, says Brianna Shales, marketing director for the Wenatchee, Wash.-based marketer.

Organic seed, agtech among topics of OGS 2023 educational program
Organic seed, agtech among topics of OGS 2023 educational program

This year's Organic Grower Summit will feature eight educational sessions, including ones focused on the challenges of organic seed production and ag technology.

IFPA applauds organic legislation supported by coalition of industry partners
IFPA applauds organic legislation supported by coalition of industry partners

The bill would improve the National Organic Program by establishing a process by which the USDA solicits input every five years from organic stakeholders regarding changes to organic standards, IFPA says.

Organically Grown Company launches campaign touting ‘Organic is the Answer’
Organically Grown Company launches campaign touting ‘Organic is the Answer’

Portland, Ore.-based Organically Grown Company has launched a new consumer campaign called Organic is the Answer.

The Organic Center awarded nearly $900K in USDA research grants
The Organic Center awarded nearly $900K in USDA research grants

The organic nonprofit was awarded nearly $900,000 by the USDA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative to collaborate in four organic research and education projects.

Organic Growers Summit panel to tackle regenerative versus organic
Organic Growers Summit panel to tackle regenerative versus organic

The “Regenerative — What Does it Mean for Organic?” education session will dive into perspectives by industry experts at the sixth annual Organic Grower Summit on Nov. 29-30 in Monterey, Calif.

Organic Grower Summit session to look at artificial intelligence in farming
Organic Grower Summit session to look at artificial intelligence in farming

An “Unlocking the Value of AI on the Digital Farming Journey" session will explore how AI and machine learning are providing data-driven insights and forecasts for specialty crop markets.

Organic marketers help drive sustainable packaging innovation
Organic marketers help drive sustainable packaging innovation

Organic produce packaging will continue to trend toward more sustainable options in coming years, marketers say.

Organic gala and Honeycrisp give retailers a dynamic duo
Organic gala and Honeycrisp give retailers a dynamic duo

Organic gala and organic Honeycrisp provide both retailers and consumers with great options, says Kaci Komstadius, vice president of marketing for Sage Fruit Co., Yakima, Wash.

Retailers have numerous options to push organic sales
Retailers have numerous options to push organic sales

Marketers polled by The Packer said retailers can employ several strategies to promote organic produce more effectively.

Bananas top the list of U.S. organic produce imports
Bananas top the list of U.S. organic produce imports

​​​​​​​Measured by volume, bananas led the list of top organic fresh produce imports in 2022, USDA statistics indicate.

Survey: Moderate organic sales growth anticipated
Survey: Moderate organic sales growth anticipated

A survey of produce professionals at the LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group indicates a mixture of expectations for retail growth.

Stemilt Growers eyes organic increase
Stemilt Growers eyes organic increase

Stemilt Growers will see significant increases in organic Cosmic Crisp, SweeTango, and Honeycrisp apples in the 2023-24 crop year, says Brianna Shales.