Starr Ranch Growers adds organic volume of Honeycrisp, other varieties
Got some organic Honeycrisp? That is the question that the market is asking suppliers, says Dan Davis, director of business development for Wenatchee, Wash.-based Starr Ranch Growers.
“It seems no matter how much we transition, this market wants more,” Davis said.
Starr Ranch Growers provides a year-round supply of conventional and organic fruit through a dual-hemisphere program, he said.
This year, a larger crop in Washington will bring more volume to the marketer’s organic program, Davis said.
Looking for value
Inflation is a concern to some organic consumers, Davis said.
“It's certainly making a segment of the market take a step back in their evaluation of what goes in their cart,” Davis said. "We've got to find a way to provide 'value' organic options for that segment. Retail needs to find [a] way to provide those options to those cost-conscious consumers.”
In recent developments, Starr Ranch Growers has added some social accountability elements to the auditing and tracking efforts of its sustainably-grown program, Davis said.