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Organic apple supplies are tight and getting tighter in the 2021-22 marketing season.

Watsonville, Calif.-based Lakeside Organic Gardens has entered its 26th year of growing solely organic vegetables, and strong demand is fueling continuing growth, said Marliese McWherter, marketing director.

It is hard to imagine now, but there once was a time when organic produce was not an established part of the modern produce department.

Though hot temperatures in Washington state orchards last summer held back organic output for the 2021 crop, Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit Co. is planning for long-term expansion of its organic program.

The California Avocado Commission’s 2022 pre-season forecast projects a 306-million-pound crop, which is nearly a 15% increase over the last fiscal year.

Chile doubles volume to the U.S. and implements enhanced marketing campaign.

Country Sweet Produce’s Bako Sweet sweet potatoes are now certified by the American Heart Association just in time to celebrate American Heart Month and National Sweet Potato Month..

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.

Atlanta, Ga.-based EarthFresh LLC is seeing good quality potatoes coming out of storage, said Libby Massey, marketing manager.