Seasonal organic fruit in good supply

Whether they’re planning a late-summer beach outing or an early fall picnic, consumers should find plenty of tasty organic fruit at their supermarkets this time of year.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers Inc. is in full swing with its organic peaches and nectarines, said Brianna Shales, marketing director.

“We grow these organically to help retailers differentiate on flavor and quality, while also offering consumers an organic option in a favorite summertime fruit,” she said.

In the fall, Stemilt will have new-crop organic apples and pears, including the popular organic SweeTango. New-crop Honeycrisp apples, a central part of organic apple volume and sales, will also be available, she said.

The company’s organic volume will be down compared to last year because of a shorter apple crop caused primarily by hail events and record temperatures, Shales said.

About 23% of Stemilt’s apples and 16% of its pears are organically grown.

“Stemilt is a leader in organic tree fruits,” Shales said. “We really pride ourselves in growing those modern varieties with high consumer demand organically in order to help retailers drive consumer satisfaction in the organic category.”

Organic volume at Chelan Fresh, Chelan, Wash., is expected to be up 60% this year, said Kevin Stennes, organic sales manager.

The company’s 5-year-old organic category now accounts for about 7% of its volume.

Chelan Fresh has experienced some growth in the Honeycrisp, gala and fuji apple varieties; large growth in organic Rockit volume; and slight growth in organic Cosmic Crisp and SugarBee, Stennes said.

The company’s offerings also include Pink Lady apples and bartlett, Starkrimson, bosc, anjou and red anjou pears.

The Chelan Fresh crop is running slightly later than normal because of a cold spring and late start of summer, he said.

A bounty of berries

On the berry scene, Doral, Fla.-based Alpine Fresh offers organic blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, said Chris Elmer, vice president of sales.

“Our focus on berries is finding the varieties that make a difference – that eat better, have better staying power and better shelf life,” he said.

The company is “moving fast and forward” on three specific varieties.

For blueberries, it’s Sekoya.

Alpine Fresh is part of a group that has exclusive rights to the Sekoya, which Elmer called “a phenomenal variety.”

Sekoya blueberries now are being harvested, but it will take three to five years to meet the full consumer demand, he said.

The Daniela variety is the raspberry of choice for Alpine Fresh.

“We feel that specific variety has great taste, great shelf life, great color and it’s been received very well,” Elmer said.

For blackberries, Sweet Karoline, a first-year player, is the standout.

“The flavor profile is outstanding,” he said.

It’s currently only available from January to May, but Alpine Fresh is looking for ways to extend the crop.

“Customer reception for Sweet Karoline has been incredible,” Elmer said. “We can’t grow enough of them at the moment.”

Organic avocados

New and existing customers of Oxnard, Calif.-based Mission Produce Inc. have taken Peruvian organic avocados for the first time this year, partly due to the region’s high-quality crop this season, said Megan Berenbach, organic category manager.

“We’ve received great feedback from customers and consumers this season on the quality of our Peruvian fruit,” she said.

Limited supplies out of Mexico this summer also prompted the company to ramp up its Peruvian programs.

Mission’s organic Minis — size 84 avocados — also have been in high demand.

“They’re a great value-pack and can be the perfect size for single servings,” Berenbach said.

Continued organic growth

Suppliers see continuing growth throughout the organic fruit category.

Shales expected to see an increase of organic apples, especially new varieties such as Cosmic Crisp and certain club apples.

“It takes three consecutive years of farming to go organic, and so the volumes seem to ebb and flow, especially as new varieties come into the mix,” she said.

Stennes said he, too, thinks that the organic apple and pear categories “will continue to increase in volumes, but the selection will continue to change toward newer varieties and proprietary club varieties.”

Organic avocados consistently are in high demand, as well, Berenbach said.

Industrywide, retail sales of organic avocados have grown more than 60% over the past five years, she said.      

“About 19% of avocado shoppers buy organic avocados,” Berenbach said. “And households who do buy organic avocados tend to buy organic foods overall.”