Organic
Santa Cruz, Calif.,-based Awe Sum Organics recently announced the addition of two new hires to support its upcoming launch of organic avocados.
The Organic Grower Summit presented by Western Growers and the Organic Produce Network will honor long-time organic grower Jeff Huckaby as the recipient of the fifth annual Grower of the Year award.
USDA grant supports research on how farmers can harness ecology in organic cropping systems at Purdue, University of Wisconsin and Western Illinois University.
Organic and fair trade grower has harvested its first crop of greenhouse grown organic heirloom tomatoes in Arizona and will debut at the Global Produce and Floral Show.
In the third quarter of 2022 retail fresh produce organic sales rose 4.1%, but volume was off 4.5% compared with the same period a year ago, according to a new report from Organic Produce Network and Category Partners.
Nearly 25% of Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers’ apple crop is grown and certified organic for the 2022 crop, says Brianna Shales, marketing director.
The Packer is seeking input from suppliers for upcoming Oct. 31 coverage of organic produce.
Farmers seeking to transition to organic production will soon get more help.
Organic volume is growing for Chelan Fresh in SugarBee, Rockit and Cosmic Crisp apple varieties, says Kevin Stennes, organic sales manager for Chelan Fresh, Chelan, Wash.
Porterville, Calif.-based Homegrown Organic Farms is continuing to increase the amount of its acreage certified with the Equitable Food Initiative, says Elise Smith, marketing manager.
Wenatchee, Wash.-based CMI Orchards is steadily growing in organic apples, pears and cherries, said Joel Hewitt, organic sales manager.
Viva Tierra Organic is planning new product introductions, new packaging and new branding for the 2022-23 season, says Chris Ford, business development and marketing manager for the Mount Vernon, Wash.-based marketer.
Awe Sum Organics is growing its organic lineup in a number of ways, says David Posner, president, CEO and founder of Awe Sum Organics, Santa Maria, Calif.
For marketers of organic produce, certification under USDA organic standards is the starting point, the bold headline on their fruits and vegetables.
Organic growers and marketers are facing the vice of higher input costs on one side and the desire to limit price increases for customers on the other.
Oppy offers a big range of organics, including apples, pears, berries, ginger root, grapes, kiwi, avocados, cherries, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, says senior sales representative Rachel Mehdi.
Continued growth and greater consumer choice is anticipated for tomorrow’s organic fresh produce sector, according to a survey from The Packer.
Consumers want both convenience and sustainability in organic produce packaging, and marketers say they will deliver.
Oviedo, Fla.-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods will spotlight its new single count Organic Celery Heart product at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show Oct. 27-29 in Orlando, Fla.
A new report outlines several ways organic agriculture should benefit from the next farm bill.
Naturipe Farms is the largest producer of organic blueberries in the world, and sales are still headed higher, says Brian Bocock, vice president of product management for Naturipe.
About 20% of the produce from Yakima, Wash.-based Domex Superfresh Growers is organic certified, and that percentage is moving up to 25% in the future, says Catherine Gipe-Stewart, director of marketing.
Organic fresh produce grew sales by 5.5 percent in 2021, topping $9 billion for the first time, and outpacing conventionally grown produce in year-over-year gains in both sales and volume.
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.
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.
Kale brings a steady following when it comes to organic purchases. The leafy greens were the No. 1 item that shoppers purchased as organic—both periodically and exclusively again this year.
Key organic priorities for the next farm bill include investment in organic research and cost share, new legislation to modernize organic regulations and support for farmers making the transition to organic agriculture.
San Francisco-based Farmland LP, an investment fund that generates returns by converting conventional farmland to organic farmland, has announced the closing of Vital Farmland REIT LLC, according to a news release.
Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit Co. LLC will see a significant increase in organic volume this season thanks to a partnership with Chelan, Wash.-based Chelan Fruit.
Total organic fresh produce sales for the first quarter of 2022 increased by 4% from the same period last year, according to the latest Organic Produce Performance Report.