Organic berries, apples, grapes and other fruit have been faring well during the pandemic, grower-shippers say.
The berry category, which is a powerful sales driver year-round, is especially strong during the summer months, according to the third-quarter Organic Produce Performance Report released Oct. 21 by the Organic Produce Network and Category Partners.
Strawberries ranked second in overall organic dollars, the report said, with blueberries the fourth-highest dollar contributor.
Strawberries (27%) and blueberries (17%) generated among the strongest dollar increases of all organic produce categories during the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year.
The Watsonville, Calif., organic strawberry program for Watsonville-based Well-Pict Inc. was winding down in late October, said Jim Grabowski, director of marketing.
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Picking was tentatively planned to start in Florida by Thanksgiving, but Grabowski said it more than likely will be early December before the Florida program gets underway.
Picking will start in Oxnard, Calif., in late December or early January and build up to significant volume by early February.
About 10% of Well-Pict’s strawberry crop is organically grown, he said, and sales are up.
“We’re generally in a demand exceeds supply situation,” Grabowski said.
Organic table grapes also ranked among the top 10 bestselling organic produce commodities.
McFarland, Calif.-based Sunview Marketing International will ship primarily Autumn King, Sorrella Bella, Allison and Sweet Carnival table grapes between now and the end of the year, said Mitch Wetzel, vice president of sales.
“We had excellent growing conditions,” he said. “Quality and condition are excellent.”
Vines are producing great-eating fruit, and the newer varieties are producing excellent berry size, he added.
The company plans to ship green seedless grapes until Dec. 1 and red seedless well into December.
Apples ranked No. 3 in sales dollars and volume, according to the Organic Produce Network report, and Chuck Sinks, president, sales and marketing at Sage Fruit Co. LLC, Yakima, Wash., said demand for the organic apples and pears at Sage Fruit has continued to increase.
The fall/winter period is a busy time for organic apples and pears, he said.
Organic apple varieties from Sage Fruit will include granny smith, Pink Lady, gala, fuji, red delicious, Honeycrisp and Cosmic Crisp.
Organic pears will include bartlett, bosc and green anjou.
The organic commodities are in much higher demand today than they were five years ago, he said.
“Because of that, our organic program is continuing to grow,” Sinks said. “Not only are we planting new acreage of organic orchards, but we are actively transitioning many of our conventional orchards.”
Viva Tierra Organic Inc., Sedro-Woolley, Wash., was in the middle of its Washington apple and pear season in late October, moving fruit into warehouses and out to the stores, said Addie Pobst, organic integrity and logistics coordinator.
Meanwhile, the California apple deal was winding down.
Viva Tierra will ship bosc and anjou pears and fuji, granny smith and Pink Lady apples from California into December.
The company will have a full spectrum of apple varieties from Washington this season, including braebrun, fuji, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp and red delicious.
Domestic product will be available until January to April, depending on variety, then the company will import fruit from Chile and Argentina.
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Despite some localized storm damage and dry weather, growing conditions were fairly good this year, she said.
“Overall, it was a pretty reasonable season without a lot of extremes,” she said.
Volume should be similar to last year, and size range should be normal, peaking on mid-size fruit.
Homegrown Organic Farms, Porterville, Calif., has kicked off its organic blueberry program out of Chile, said Scott Mabs, chief executive officer.
Berries will be packed in Kingsburg, Calif., and shipped from there.
The 100% Fair Trade certified imported organic blueberries will be available until early March, he said.
The company’s citrus program has started with lemons from the California desert, and navel oranges from the Central Valley were due by the end of October.
They will be followed by clementines, cara cara oranges and grapefruit.
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