Organic Citrus
Fifth-generation farmer Justin Wylie is testing algae to rebuild soil health in orchards. By boosting soil microbes through irrigation, he hopes to improve water infiltration, reduce inputs and build resilience in high-cost Central Valley agriculture.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture expanded the state’s huanglongbing, HLB, or citrus greening quarantine boundary in the San Juan Capistrano area of Orange County.
The company, through its Bright Bounty brand, will highlight specialty varieties including blood oranges, meyer lemons and melo gold grapefruit.
Sold under the Fruit World label, the grower-shipper says it will kick off citrus season early and offer organic Dulce mandarins, harvested just before its clementines.
DiSilva Fruit’s new Bright Bounty packaging debuts in time for the upcoming season.
The partnership will allow the company to increase organic citrus offerings, as well as a stronger supply line, the company says.
Fruit World encourages retailers to take advantage of peak citrus season by showcasing a vibrant, diverse selection that aligns with health-conscious consumers.
The company says its next organic clementine varieties, including satsumas, are also “eating exceptionally well.”
Demand for specialty citrus continues to grow in both conventional and organic categories, says DiSilva Fruit.
Citrus has become one of the produce department’s leading organic items.
West Mexico provides a large amount of the fruits and vegetables consumed in the U.S. each winter, and that includes an ever-expanding selection of organic produce.
2019 retail sales of organic fruits and vegetables grew twice as fast as sales of conventional produce, according to a new study on organic sales.
Patagonia Orchards LLC has added a second grower to boost its output of organic citrus.
Organic citrus growers in California and Texas are reporting ample supplies of good-quality fruit this season, with demand continuing to expand.
PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. — Organic farming and marketing is not getting any easier, and a panel of organic supply chain experts at EcoFarm 2020 said the causes include regulations, competition and rising consumer demands.
Braga Fresh Family Farms, Del Rey Avocado and Suntreat received recognition from Whole Foods as part of the retailer’s annual Supplier Awards program.
Sunkist Growers treated Montreal residents to a bright, garden-themed pop-up to escape the winter blues.
TerraFresh Organics, Mill Valley, Calif., has hired Lorena Garcia as director of sales and business development.
Sales of fresh limes seem to be trending upward. At Delano, Calif.-based Wonderful Citrus, Elena Rhodes, director of product management, said in mid-April that sales were up 13% year over year.
Bee Sweet Citrus is transitioning into its annual summer program as the pandemic continues to drive sales.
Senior director Chris Cockle said Dinuba, Calif.-based Wonderful Citrus will have an extensive offshore citrus deal this summer that will include mandarins, navel oranges and lemons.
DiSilva Fruit and Morning Kiss Organic are ready to deliver delicious, vitamin-packed organic and conventional citrus for the coming citrus season.
Organic pears maintained the top spot on PMG the week of Nov. 30, but citrus showed strong interest overall, taking six of the top 20 spots.
Avocados bounced from No. 7 the week of Nov. 30 to take the lead spot on PMG the week of Nov. 7.
Although USDA’s NASS estimated that California’s navel orange crop will be about 42 million 80-pound boxes this season, some grower-shippers estimate that number might be a bit on the heavy side.
Exports play a role in the marketing plans of many citrus grower-shippers, but that role can vary from company to company and season to season.
Pummelos, oranges and strawberries maintained the top three spots on PMG the week of Jan. 11, but mandarins rose from No. 11 the previous week to No. 4, and cabbage, previously No. 12, moved up to the No. 5 spot.