All Things Organic

Suppliers see organics as key niche in Northwest cherry season

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:56:08 GMT

Organics are a relatively tiny part — about 2% — of the Northwest cherry deal, but they play a key role, said B.J. Thurlby, president of the Yakima, Wash.-based Northwest Cherry Growers , an association that includes about 2,500 growers from the region among its membership.

“We kind of grow as demand for organic grows,” he said.

That demand is there, he said.

“Two percent of 23 million is still 700,000-800,000 boxes, so that’s a lot of fruit,” he said.

Organics are a small percentage of the Northwest cherry crop, because cherries are difficult to grow organically, but there are growers devoted to the category, said Brianna Shales, communications manager with Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers LLC.

She cited Stemilt’s Kyle Mathison as an example.

“He grows organically and has modern skeena plantings that come off the tree during July’s peak organic window,” Shales said of Mathison.

“Organic cherries still have promotional opportunities, and retailers should follow the crop closely to make the most of the opportunity when it is there.”

Related content: Organic produce updates

The organic cherry category is growing, if at its own pace, and retailers are aware of it, said Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing with Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit Co .

“Organic cherries have been gaining steam each season, and there looks to be good supplies this coming year,” he said.

“While the percentage of organics compared to conventional cherries is small, most retailers feel it is beneficial to offer both SKUs (stock-keeping units) to their customers. Retailers will be able to load organics with conventional to help reduce the need to make multiple pickups this season.”

Last season’s Nielsen sales numbers should convince retailers to carry organic cherries, said Catherine Gipe-Stewart, communications manager at Yakima-based Domex Superfresh Growers .

“As with all fruit, it is more important than ever for retailers to include organics in their cherry programs,” she said, noting that Nielsen reported organic dark sweet sales were up 4%.

“They represent a small portion of total cherry sales, but we know customers who seek them tend to spend more on groceries. And increasingly, customers expect to find organic cherries at their favorite grocery destination.”

Vancouver, British Columbia-based The Oppenheimer Group doesn’t grow organic cherries at its Orchard View Farms operation in The Dalles, Ore., but the category does garner the company’s interest, said Jon Bailey, sales manager.

“We do see it as an area with a high-growth potential in the future, as the industry continues to build on this promising niche,” he said.

“I’m sure that it will continue to grow in volume, although I don’t think it will be a big percentage of the entire supply for several years yet. Controlling certain pests and the economics, along with possible fruit quality and size issues, has kept us from seriously looking at adding it to our manifest, but we continue to monitor the option annually.”

Related content: Northwest cherry news and updates

Chelan, Wash.-based Chelan Fresh Marketing estimates its 2020 organic cherry crop at around 40,000-50,000 boxes, compared to a total cherry volume of about 3.5 million, said Kevin Stennis, organic manager.

“Demand usually outpaces supply on the organic cherries, so it was a good season last year,” he said. “They had good, firm f.o.b.s — kind of what you hope for every year.”

Wenatchee-based CMI Orchards has roughly 12% of the total Northwest organic cherry crop, said Danelle Huber, marketing specialist.

“CMI is lucky to have orchards in some excellent growing regions where we can assure the quality and sweetness of our organic crop,” she said, noting that the company’s Daisy Girl organic label is popular among consumers.

Organic growth can snowball, said Blaine Markley, director of domestic sales with Selah, Wash.-based Rainier Fruit Co..

“The good news is, the more positive experiences and availability for organic products that consumers find, the more their repeat purchases grow,” she said.

“This is increasingly important as consumers are making choices about health and selecting products that fit their lifestyle and values.”

Consumers don’t overlook the health issue, Markley said.

“As a whole, cherry consumption is very stable, but as more consumers lean into health trends, they are looking to cherries for their wide range of health benefits including reducing risks of cardiovascular disease and hypertension,” she said.

“Cherries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium and melatonin. Although cherries have always been an out-of-hand snack, this move to health and wellness has consumers exploring so many more ingredient uses in salads, instant oats, smoothie bowls and other on-trend recipes.”

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Morning Kiss Organic to feature expanded offerings at organic show

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:04:05 GMT

Chelsea, Mass.-based Morning Kiss Organic — which has expanded its program with organic kiwis and pears, available year-round — will exhibit at the Organic Produce Summit July 10-11 in Monterey, Calif.

The company has added orange-mango to the original lineup of orange, grapefruit, and lemonade cold-pressed juices, according to a news release. Morning Kiss Organic is the organic brand of Gold Bell, DiSilva Fruit and Arrowfarms.

“Our mission is to support farmers, the environment and our community through our line of organic fruits and vegetables,” Mike Guptill of Morning Kiss Organic said in the release. “We think everyone should have access to high-quality, affordably priced organic produce.”

The company specializes in sustainable packaging that reduces waste, according to the release.

Morning Kiss Organic works with East Coast farmers when possible so the products are subject to less travel, according to the release.

“We are looking forward to connecting with retailers and introducing them to our program offerings, as well as our new items,” Nelly Czajkowski of Morning Kiss Organic said in the release.

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Northwest organic apples come easier, but the Northeast still wants it

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:33:51 GMT

Whatever your opinion on organics, there’s a market for it.

Organic apples have been one of the better sellers compared to other types of organic produce, said Joe Eisinger, organic produce buyer for Nathel & Nathel Inc. , Bronx, N.Y., a produce wholesaler, exporter and broker since 1922.

Demand for organic apples has been a little higher than the same time last year, he said. However, the market was a bit weaker price-wise because new growers started offering organics.

“They didn’t have an established customer base to sell them to, so they lowered the price,” Eisinger said.

Coming from Washington, the supply of organic apples has been steady for Nathel & Nathel.

The company has about 200 stock-keeping units of organic produce among 500 items altogether, Ira Nathel said. The firm has seven varieties of organic apples: fuji, gala, granny smith, Honeycrisp, golden delicious, Pink Lady and red delicious.

“The Honeycrisp sells the best because of the flavor. It’s a high-end apple,” Eisinger said.

Most of his retail customers are higher-end and carry all seven varieties of organic apples.

Washington’s dry climate provides “huge” competitive advantage over New York’s orchards because the less humidity, the more ideal it is for organic production, said Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission , Wenatchee.

“The dry climate, combined with rich soils, consistent water availability and low pest and disease complexes create the perfect climate for expansive organic production,” Fryhover said.

The 2018-19 season of organic apple production comprises 16.7 million apples of the total production, and volume is increasing each season, he said. It’s a pretty steep jump from the 13.37 million apples in the previous season.

Also seeing growth in organic apples is Stemilt Growers , Wenatchee, Wash., said Roger Pepperl, marketing director. The company is starting its 30th year of growing and selling organic apples.

“We are in this organic thing forever,” Pepperl said.

“We now have the right apples — such as Honeycrisp, Piñata, fuji, SweeTango and gala — that drive apple sales. That is what organic shoppers want,” Pepperl said.

Supplies are up this season due to many orchards transitioning throughout the state, he said. Pricing is a premium but in proportions that allow 50-cent to $1 premiums per pound.

“The customer expects this and is fine with it,” Pepperl said.

Growing apples and stone fruit, Jim Bittner of Bittner Singer Orchards beside Lake Ontario in Appleton, N.Y., near Niagara Falls grows USDA-certified organic apples, but that comprises only 2% of his apple crop.

“You’ll find very, very little organic on the East Coast,” Bittner said one day as he took a break to talk in his office in a converted farmhouse on his land.

He agreed New York’s climate disadvantage means it’s hard to keep apples blemish-free with the strict rules on types of pesticide allowed for organic certification.

So, Bittner’s organic apples are for apple sauce. It’s too risky to use them as a fresh-produce product.

“I don’t believe in it anyway,” he said.

Members of the Organic Fruit Growers Association do fresh sales and value-added production, such as fruit butters, sauces, ciders, fruit leathers, vinegars and jellies, said association president Dan Kelly.

But most of the group’s growers serve their local markets and have fewer than 10 acres each. Kelly runs Blue Heron Orchard in Canton, Mo., where he started planting organics in 1990 and became the first certified-organic apple orchard in Missouri in 2000.

For the 2017 season, Blue Heron’s diversity of value-added products allowed apple products to be sold throughout the year.

“And no apples are disposed of or discounted,” Kelly said.

— See what the facilities of several New York apple packers look like in our slide show .

Leaders review New England Organic Produce Conference

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:20:53 GMT

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — How did the inaugural New England Organic Produce Conference go?

Northeast editor Amy Sowder attended the event at Gillette Stadium, and as it closed down, she talked to leaders of the two organizations that created the first-of-its-kind event: Laura Sullivan, executive director of the New England Produce Council, and Matt Seeley, co-founder of the Organic Produce Network.

More coverage is to come, but in the meantime, check out this overview: Industry turns out for first New England Organic Produce Conference .

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