Whether you’re looking for organic Brussels sprouts, romaine hearts, tomatoes or just about any other vegetable this summer, supplies should be ample.
“With the growth of organic fruits and vegetables up almost double the rate of the growth of conventional produce in 2019, organics have moved from niche to mainstream,” said Helen Aquino, director of brand marketing and communications for Village Farms International Inc., Delta, British Columbia.
Organic production at Ocean Mist Farms, Castroville, Calif., will include iceberg lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, artichokes, fennel, baby bok choy, red beets, broccoli, celery and specialty vegetables, said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing.
Ocean Mist has a line of about 20 organic cooking vegetables.
The company grows organically in Castroville, Coachella and Huron, Calif., at various times of the year.
Ocean Mist launched its Ocean Mist Organic brand in the summer of 2015 and has been growing organically since 2000, she said.
Organics account for 5% to 10% of the company’s production.
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About half the products that Los Angeles-based 4Earth Farms LLC offers are organically grown, said Mark Munger, vice president of sales and marketing.
The company has a core organic product line of about 25 items, he said, and has access to dozens more.
Brussels sprouts are 4Earth Farms’ No. 1 organic seller followed by green beans, with French beans “an up-and-comer,” Munger said.
Other popular organic items include green and yellow squash, mini sweet peppers, Persian cucumbers and colored bell peppers.
“Because of our location and our relationship with our growers and our ability to have access to markets, we kind of view ourselves as a one-stop organic shop,” Munger said.
The company grows in multiple regions, such as California, Baja California and Guatemala, simultaneously to ensure consistent supplies.
During the spring and summer, most of the firm’s products come from California and Baja California, where growing conditions have been good, but where there’s been a lot of late-season rain.
“While it’s happening, (rain) is definitely a bit of a nuisance, but we always view rain as money in the bank,” Munger said. “We’re going to continue to take it while we can get it.”
With above-average rainfall last year and normal levels this year, “It puts us in a solid position for the season,” he said.
The future looks bright for organics, he said.
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“We’re seeing availability of organic produce improve during all 12 months of the year.”
On the organic mushroom scene, Leamington, Ontario-based Highline Mushrooms expects to continue to ship its full variety of mushrooms through the summer, said Jane Rhyno, director of sales and marketing.
“Quality looks great across our farms and, as always, we pick, pack and ship fresh every day to provide the consumer the best quality on shelf,” she said.
Volume at Highline has been very strong and should continue throughout the spring and summer, she added.
Mushrooms are in line with many of the current food trends, Rhyno said, including plant-based eating, health and at-home cooking.
“It’s a great category that retailers can look to promote in the upcoming months,” she said.
The organic greenhouse-grown program at Village Farms International “is thriving and is in full swing,” Aquino said in mid-April.
“The crops look great,” she said.
All of Village Farms’ greenhouses that grow organically have been certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and verified by a third party, she said.
Tomatoes rank in the top 10 for both dollars and volumes in the organic category, she said.
“Right now we are harvesting Juicy beefsteak tomatoes, Delectable TOV tomatoes, Sinfully Sweet Campari tomatoes, and Lip Smackn’ Grape tomatoes,” she said.
“We have a number of pack sizes available to meet our customer needs and those of the organic consumer,” added Bret Wiley, senior vice president of sales and sales operations.
