Organic Farming

As Women Farmers Rise, Organic Agriculture Leads the Way

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 19:58:39 GMT

With the United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer shining a global spotlight on women in agriculture, census data underscores just how central women have become to the future of U.S. farming, particularly in organic production.

According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, more than half of U.S. farms report having at least one female decision-maker, with women accounting for 36% of all producers and 41% of beginning farmers. Their presence is even stronger in organic agriculture, where women are primary operators on 18% of organic farms compared to 14% of conventional operations, a gap that highlights organic’s appeal as an entry point and long-term career path for women.

Those numbers reflect a steady increase over the past few decades, a trend Kate Mendenhall, executive director of the Organic Farmers Association and owner-operator of Okoboji Organics in northwest Iowa, sees firsthand. She attributes part of the growth to changes in how the ag census asks who actually makes decisions on farms, whereas earlier surveys often listed only one operator, newer approaches better capture farm operations as team efforts, bringing women’s roles into clearer view.

At the same time, Mendenhall says women are increasingly drawn to organic and sustainable agriculture as consumer demand grows for food produced without synthetic chemicals. As a mother and livestock farmer, she says those values are deeply personal. Farming organically allows her to raise food for her community while also creating a safe environment for her children to be part of daily farm life, an experience she says resonates with many women entering the field.

Kate Mendenhall is executive director of the Organic Farmers Association and owner-operator of Okoboji Organics in northwest Iowa.

(Photo courtesy of Kate Mendenhall)

“The organic community was incredibly welcoming to me,” Mendenhall says, adding that seeing other successful women farmers helped her envision agriculture as a viable career after being discouraged from farming during the Midwest farm crisis of her youth. That sense of inclusion, she says, continues to draw women into organic production and helps explain why their representation is higher than in conventional farming.

Despite the progress reflected in census data, Mendenhall says visibility remains a challenge.

She recalls registering her farm with the local Farm Service Agency and being asked repeatedly who would actually be doing the work. Her answer each time: “Me.” Experiences like that, she says, underscore why recognition of women as primary operators remains a key issue during the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

From her dual role as a working farmer and national advocate, Mendenhall brings that lived experience to her leadership at OFA.

Managing organic certification paperwork, working with USDA agencies, hosting farm tours and marketing directly to customers all inform the policy priorities she advances in Washington, D.C. Being rooted in the day-to-day realities of farming, she says, gives her credibility as well as urgency when advocating for programs that truly meet farmers’ needs.

As the International Year of the Woman Farmer unfolds, Mendenhall hopes the focus will inspire more women and girls to see themselves in agriculture. Representation matters, she says, not only to close long-standing recognition gaps but also to ensure the next generation of farmers reflects the diversity, resilience and values shaping the future of food.

How Trust and Innovation Drive the Future of Organics Beyond the Seal

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 02:08:19 GMT

When asked about generational trends in organic consumption Matt Landi, vice president of industry relations for the Organic Trade Association, is quick to point out that a lot of that has to do with how readily accessible organics has been to different generations.

The Organic Foods Production Act, which created national organic standards, didn’t occur until 1990. So, for traditionalists and their children, baby boomers, organic produce wasn’t even a thing, and the same for Gen Xers. Landi says it’s less about demographics and more about general awareness.

“Everyone born after a certain date has exposure to organics,” he says. “When you’re seeing numbers like with Gen Z and millennials, and you see this progression of having folks be more open to it is because it’s just becoming more ingrained in our food system.”

Landi says this is as much to do with how organics have become more ubiquitous and therefore more readily accessible to consumers.

“The biggest thing about organic at this stage is that when we look at those numbers for Gen Z, and Gen Alpha eventually, there isn’t a day in their life when there wasn’t something organic in their house,” he says.

Landi says that with the level of trust in organics, younger consumers are more willing to pay for organics as Gen Z and millennials seek out attributes in their food that they can feel good about.

“We did a consumer perception study last year, and organic is still by far the most trusted label,” he says.

Landi adds that this consumer perception and trust in organics has created this great opportunity to have a conversation about food production.

“It’s hard not to see a bright future,” he says.

Matt Landi, vice president of industry relations for the Organic Trade Association, says organics needs to take an approach of continuous improvement to continue to maintain its trust with consumers.

(Photo: Nexa, Adobe Stock)

Gold Standard of Consumer Trust

“Organic is 100% built on trust,” Landi says, noting the seal is backed by federal law. “It’s one of the only labels that you see on something and one of the only industries that asks for more regulation sometimes.”

Landi says part of the category’s future involves preserving that trust.

“We’re at this place where it’s got to maintain the trust and integrity, and we also have this tremendous opportunity from a generational standpoint of organic is not just mainstreamed, it’s more in the consciousness of people as they think about their food,” he says.

Landi says organics also needs to take an approach of continuous improvement to continue to carry forward this trust.

“We’ve got to be able to be responsive to changing dynamics. When organic started out, it was mostly pretty small and midsized producers,” he says. “And as it’s scaled, a different method of agriculture is merging with organic. A little bit more of an industrial-scale organic.”

Along with keeping that trust is also a goal of working to eliminate fraud through legislation, Landi says, as well as the imbalances in subsidies for organic and conventional growers. New rules, such as Strengthening Organic Enforcement, can help eliminate fraud.

Landi says while organics is built on regulatory infrastructure, he says OTA also looks at ways to keep that regulatory infrastructure manageable for growers.

“We’re trying to figure out ways to look critically at the process, to try to reduce some of that paperwork burden, especially on smaller producers,” he says. “If you’re a large operation, you can hire a compliance team and that’s their job. If you’re a small farmer, you’re doing it at your kitchen table at midnight, or you’re doing it all winter.”

Matt Landi, vice president of industry relations for the Organic Trade Association, says as more organic products become more available, it’s critical that the industry maintains that trust with consumers.

(Photo: Pavel, Adobe Stock)

Innovation as the Pathway to Scale

Landi says those small farms, where the grower often wears multiple hats, including sales and compliance, are essentially at the heart of where organics began. And while organic produce is sold at a premium, he views that premium with a perspective of how organic growers take on risk during the growing season.

“All farms are actually essentially giving us all a loan,” he says. “They put all the investment upfront, and they’re loaning us this potential food until it’s actually food and they can actually realize a return on their investment.”

He explains there are many complexities in why organics cost more, from the cost of labor to the crop protection products growers use. Landi says it’s also crucial to remember organic produce makes up only about 15% of the fresh produce sold.

“When you think about this like a startup, you’re building something, and I think we’re still doing some of that,” he says. “We’re still not that old, really, when you think about how the trade works and building up enough volume and being a significant enough part of the supply chain across the board.”

Landi says as additional organic products become more available, it’s critical the industry maintains that trust with consumers. He adds there are many good growers who grow only conventional, as well as a lot of growers who grow both organic and conventional.

“We’re all looking for continuous improvement, and organic is a measurement toward that rebalancing,” he says. “It’s like a way for us to verify that we’re moving the needle in some way that we can impact.”

It’s also important to recognize just how markedly different organic production is today, Landi says.

“Organic has created all this pathway to innovation,” he says, noting the organic growers he works with are some of the most innovative and smartest people he’s met. “As organic continues to mature, we’re going to see this innovation as research goes into it. We’re seeing the results of some of that now, and its ability to scale to this point has been the result of that.”

Voting With the Dollar for a Systematic Shift

As for future opportunities for organic category growth, Landi says he sees berries as having limitless potential.

“People probably see them as really vulnerable to pesticides, so they look at it as a health move,” he says. “And also, because we have pretty large-scale growers that are involved in it, there’s a lot of scale and multi-regional year-round availability.”

Landi acknowledges organics could be vulnerable to greenwashing by some, as well as label fatigue.

“We’re always going to be vulnerable to something, but as a standard, organic — because so much is wrapped into it — I think if people understand the complexity of what we have to do to maintain that, there is something there,” he says about the way that consumers perceive and trust organics.

Landi says he sees consumers continuing to buy into the trust of the organic system.

“What you’re buying into more is that system,” he says. “When you think about the occasional organic shopper versus someone who’s more committed, there’s that understanding that you’re kind of making an investment, trying to balance the human footprint.”

And food production and agriculture are a big footprint.

“We all eat, so it’s a way of voting with your dollar,” he says. “And by every measurement, the data says individual health outcomes are people’s purchasing motivation. But I think the big picture is when people philosophically think about organic, it’s more thinking about it systematically in the food system.”

Kakadoodle and Spira Farms Prototype a Tech-Enabled Local Supply Chain

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:14:17 GMT

In the traditional local food model, the seasonal gap and fragmented logistics have long been the Achilles’ heel of regional produce. However, a high-tech collaboration in the Midwest between Kakadoodle, a decentralized distribution hub, and Spira Farms, an indoor vertical microgreens operation, is providing a blueprint for a resilient, year-round supply chain that mirrors industrial efficiency through artificial intelligence and deep technical integration.

For Marty and MariKate Thomas, founders of Kakadoodle , scaling a local food business to $60,000 in monthly revenue required a fundamental shift in how “local” is branded. Marty Thomas argues that the modern consumer, who typically shops at conventional grocers, craves the polish and reliability of established institutions.

A former software engineer who pivoted to agriculture following a personal battle with cancer, Thomas’ Kakadoodle has evolved from a small pastured-egg operation into a sophisticated decentralized distribution hub. Headquartered in a state-of-the-art facility in Frankfort, Ill., the company serves as an “online farmers market” for over 600 households, aggregating chemical-free products from more than 30 regional producers.

Marty and MariKate Thomas’ company, Kakadoodle, serves as an “online farmers market” for over 600 households, aggregating chemical-free products from more than 30 regional producers.

(Photo courtesy of Kakadoodle)

By replacing traditional marketing with “vibe coding,” using AI to build custom logistics and communication software, Thomas has created a tech-forward marketplace that prioritizes convenience and institutional trust, proving that local food can compete with the reliability of big-box grocers.

“I think our modern consumer would trust the chicken at Chick-fil-A more than they would trust going to the farm and buying chicken from the farmer,” Thomas says. To meet this expectation of professionalism, Kakadoodle leverages AI and high-quality branding:

AI-Enhanced Visuals: The company uses AI to transform low-quality product photos into high-end, “beautiful” imagery suitable for a digital marketplace.
Institutional Reliability: Rather than relying on traditional marketing, which Thomas says never worked, they focus on “boring” fundamentals such as maintaining a high percentage of “perfect deliveries” to build institutional trust.
Tactile Professionalism: The brand invests in high-quality, bright yellow branded grocery bags that act as a mobile marketing tool at markets and on doorsteps.

Kakadoodle isn’t just a delivery service; it’s a software-first enterprise. Thomas uses a method called “vibe coding,” using AI to write and debug code via natural language. This allows the hub to operate with the agility of a large tech firm without the overhead of a massive IT staff.

“I don’t even write code anymore,” Thomas says. Instead, he uses AI as a “group of 10 software engineers” to diagnose logistics errors. For instance, when a customer recently had two deliveries scheduled for the same day, Thomas told the AI to find the error in the logs, write a fix and create a debugging script to prevent a recurrence. This automated backend allows the business to scale customer communication via AI-managed SMS, allowing them to manage accounts and upsell products with extreme efficiency.

Spira Farms: Solving the “Basket Size” Problem

While Kakadoodle manages the interface, Spira Farms provides the consistent, climate-controlled production required to sustain a year-round model. Operating out of a 6,000-square-foot vertical warehouse, Spira grows approximately 40 varieties of greens on an outracking system.

Founded by Chris Borek, the family-run Spira Farms specializes in nutrient-dense microgreens grown in a climate-controlled outracking system that uses 95% less water than traditional field farming.

(Photo courtesy of Spira Farms)

Founded by Chris Borek, the farm specializes in nutrient-dense microgreens grown in a climate-controlled outracking system that uses 95% less water than traditional field farming. By using solar power and compostable packaging, Spira eliminates the volatility of the Midwestern climate to provide a consistent, year-round harvest. More than just a greenhouse, the farm functions as a data-driven production engine, using custom software to track 40 varieties of greens at the tray level and syncing its planting cycles directly with consumer demand.

For Borek, the partnership with Kakadoodle solved the primary headache of small-scale farming: logistics. Historically, home delivery for niche products like microgreens failed because “basket sizes” weren’t large enough to be cost-effective.

“What Kakadoodle is doing ... they are able to create that basket where it makes sense to deliver directly to consumers,” Borek says.

The integration is more than just a vendor relationship; it is a digital handshake, he says.

Data-Linked Planting: Thomas and Borek built a custom API bridge that allows Spira’s internal application to extract order data from Kakadoodle weeks in advance.
Precision Harvest: This allows Spira to plant exact amounts based on projected demand rather than speculative yields.

The Season of Survival and AI-Optimized Margins

As they look toward 2026, both companies are using AI to navigate after a “season of survival” in 2025. For Kakadoodle, this means using AI to maintain a strict 50% margin. This focus was sharpened after Thomas discovered that rising cattle commodity prices had quietly pushed their cost of goods for ground beef to $10.50, putting the business in “dangerous territory.”

Now, AI automatically calculates costs across complex value-added products, tracking everything from the initial carcass purchase to secondary processing for items such as hot dogs and bacon. By using AI to provide alerts when margins “creep up,” Kakadoodle aims to reach a $100,000 monthly break-even point. This synthesis of AI-driven logistics and precision vertical farming isn’t just about local food, Thomas says, it’s about building a smarter, more profitable local food industry.

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Black Soldier Fly Bioreactors Turn Food Waste into Plant Protection and Farm Resources

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:34:08 GMT

What if food waste wasn’t something to get rid of but a resource waiting to be tapped? Researchers at University of California, Riverside are exploring whether a small, insect-powered system could help growers close the loop, turning everyday scraps into new biological tools that support healthier plants, stronger soils and more self-reliant farms.

Black soldier fly bioreactors are gaining attention as a promising way to turn waste into resources, creating feed for poultry and fish, while also producing frass that could help strengthen plant defenses. For specialty crop growers and urban farmers, the research carries particular relevance.

Professor Kerry Mauck has been studying how black soldier fly systems influence plants, and one of the most intriguing concepts is what she describes as a “vaccine-like” effect. Insects, fungi and other organisms that commonly interact with plants contain chitin, a structural polymer. When tiny fragments of chitin from the insects’ exoskeletons show up in soil, plants recognize the signal.

Mauck explains that the bits of chitin become “a molecular signature of something that the plant might want to ramp up its defenses to fight off.” Because frass contains both chitin and microbes that help break it down into smaller pieces, plants can respond as if they are preparing for attack, thus switching on natural defense systems before any threat arrives.

“It’s like activating those defenses without the attack that comes right after,” Mauck says. “If something else does come in, the plant is ready for it.”

Black soldier fly adults sunning themselves on the walls of the greenhouse housing the bioreactor.

(Photo courtesy of Mauck Lab BSF Team)

Built With Small and Specialty Growers in Mind

While large commercial systems exist, Mauck’s team intentionally designed a small, adaptable setup.

“Ours is one of the first that’s been tested and published that would operate on a small scale,” she says. The goal was to make it feasible for small and medium-sized farms and growers with limited space. The main requirement is an enclosed area with some temperature control — such as a greenhouse or a simple building with windows.

The footprint can be as modest as a single bin, roughly a meter and a half square, but growers can add additional bins in a row as their operation grows. Importantly, most of the materials are common agricultural supplies.

“The bins are like bins you might use to harvest fruit,” she says, noting buckets, shovels and hardware-store materials made up most of the system’s needs.

Urban farmers might find the flexibility attractive, although Mauck cautions that community gardens could face coordination challenges around who maintains the system week-to-week. In the university trial, undergraduate workers were able to keep the system running with about five to 10 hours per week of labor.

BSF larvae eating food waste from the UCR dining hall.

(Photo courtesy of Mauck Lab BSF Team)

Beyond Feed: Soil Biology and Plant Resilience

Beyond producing feed for poultry and fish, Mauck sees some of the greatest potential benefits happening underground.

The chitin and organic matter appear to encourage beneficial bacteria that help keep soil-borne pathogens in check.

“The other great thing about the materials that are in the frass … is that a lot of microbes that are beneficial, that can actually suppress diseases in the soil, thrive on these materials,” she says.

Her team is now exploring whether even small doses of frass could build healthier soil ecosystems while keeping application costs low.

“We’re trying to see what’s the smallest dose … that can still be effective,” Mauck says.

For specialty crop farms, the research suggests several takeaways:

Closed-loop opportunity: Waste streams can become feed and soil amendments instead of disposal costs
Plant-defense potential: Frass might “prime” crops to better respond to pests and disease
Scalable design: Systems can start small and expand
Labor remains a factor: Clear responsibilities and training are essential, especially in shared garden settings

As scientists learn more about how frass shapes soil biology and plant defenses, this insect-powered approach could become one of the simplest ways to close the loop on nutrients.

The USDA’s 2025 Organic Survey is Coming Soon

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:30:57 GMT

If you’re an organic grower, keep a watch on your mailbox. The 2025 Organic Survey is headed your way.

USDA announced Dec. 10 that the National Agricultural Statistics Service will soon mail the survey to all known organic farms and ranches, as well as producers who are transitioning to certified organic, across all 50 states. Growers will first receive survey codes with an invitation to reply online, followed by the full questionnaire in early January, according to NASS. The questionnaire will ask producers to provide information on acreage, production and sales, as well as production and marketing practices.

“Organic agriculture is a growing industry, and it is our job as a federal statistical agency to help measure this part of the agriculture sector,” NASS Administrator Joseph Parsons says. “We are excited to provide data on organic agriculture that will help inform organic producers and other industry professionals to make informed decisions for their operations.”

Federal laws require producers to respond to the survey, as well as requiring USDA to keep respondents’ identities and responses confidential. The deadline for response is Feb. 5, 2026.

Organic Information of the Past

The USDA organic survey is a special study from the Census of Agriculture and was last conducted in 2021 .

That survey reported there were 17,445 certified organic farms in 2021, up 5% from 2019, and 4.9 million organic acres. California led the states with 3,061 certified operations and 813,710 organic acres. Indiana saw the largest proportional growth in operations at 697 in 2021 compared to 595 in 2019, a 17% increase, while Idaho saw the largest proportional growth of organic acres at 215,668, a 19% increase compared to 2019.

In 2021, the market value of certified organic products sold stood at $11.2 billion, up 13% compared to 2019. Produce items on the top 10 list by market value included apples ($629 million), strawberries ($336 million), grapes ($309 million) and lettuce ($276 million).

The results of this new organic survey will be available Oct. 30, 2026, according to NASS.

Arnott Duncan Named 2025 Organic Grower of the Year

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:58:06 GMT

The Organic Grower Summit has named Arnott Duncan, founder of Duncan Family Farms, as the 2025 Grower of the Year.

The John Deere-sponsored award recognizes Duncan’s three-decade transformation from small-scale agritourism operator to organic farming innovator managing 3,850 acres across three states.

Duncan’s path to organic leadership began with an accidental discovery in the 1990s. While operating a farm stand and petting zoo that attracted 30,000 children annually to his Goodyear, Ariz., property, Duncan and his wife, Kathleen, composted daily waste from the animals and farm operations.

“I didn’t know it at the time, but it was compost,” Duncan says. When the family used the pile as garden fertilizer, “it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. The colors were so vibrant and the texture was incredible. You couldn’t see any more perfect growth, and the flavor and texture — everything was fantastic.”

That revelation launched Duncan’s commitment to soil health and organic production. He pivoted entirely to organic farming, achieving full certification in 1994.

Today, Duncan Family Farms operates a large private composting operation, processing 25,000 tons annually from feedlot manure, retailer food trimmings and municipal green waste. The operation spans locations in Arizona, Oregon and New York, specializing in organic leafy greens, microgreens, melons, herbs and specialty vegetables.

Duncan has pioneered water conservation through automated, soil-based greenhouses developed with Agbotic that use 90% less water than conventional methods. The farm integrates cover cropping, reduced tillage and laser-weeding technology to achieve organic matter levels exceeding regional averages.

Beyond production innovation, Duncan Family Farms donates over 10,000 pounds of fresh organic produce weekly to food banks, partners with schools for free organic salad programs and hosts educational field days for emerging farmers. The operation supplies major retailers, including Sprouts Farmers Market and Albertsons/Safeway.

Duncan was presented with the award during the 2025 Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, Calif.

Planting Big Dreams: America’s Youngest Farmer Growing More Than Produce

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:29:59 GMT

At just 10 years old, Kendall Rae Johnson is the youngest certified farmer in the U.S., and her hard work has already earned her a full scholarship to South Carolina State University.

Johnson’s journey started in her family’s backyard in Georgia when her great-grandmother taught her to grow collard greens from clippings. That simple tradition sparked a love of farming that quickly grew into something bigger.

Johnson’s accomplishments grew quickly, and by the time she was 6, she was recognized as the youngest certified farmer in the U.S. At 9, she received a full-ride scholarship in agriculture from South Carolina State University — the youngest to receive this honor as well. She’s gone on speaking tours, written a book and is about to publish an accompanying workbook, launched a marinara sauce and plans to create a natural skincare line. Then in 2023, a Georgia resolution declared that March 23 would be recognized as Kendall Rae Johnson Day. All by the ripe old age of 10.

When asked how it felt to receive the news of the scholarship, Johnson says, “Well, I just felt happy and excited that someone believed in me enough to give me a full-ride scholarship to college at only 10 years old.”

As a USDA National Urban Agriculture Youth Ambassador, Johnson says she wants to share her experience to help other youth achieve their dreams.

“I want them to know they can dream big and with the right tools and support, we can make those dreams come true,” Johnson says.

Kendall Rae Johnson’s journey is proof that age isn’t a barrier in agriculture. With vision, passion and help from parents and community, you can plant seeds of change — and watch them bloom.

Your Next Read: How the Youngest Certified Farmer in the U.S. Earned Her Full Scholarship

How the Youngest Certified Farmer in the U.S. Earned Her Full Scholarship

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:44:11 GMT

It’s hard to imagine finding your life’s purpose before you’re even 10 years old, but in the case of Kendall Rae Johnson , that’s exactly what happened.

Starting when she was 3 years old, after her great-grandmother taught Kendall how to keep from wasting food by propagating collard greens from the grocery store, she knew plants, land and soil would herald her journey.

What started as growing collard greens, led to Kendall asking to grow more, says her mother, Ursula.

“We realized this was an interest of hers, and it didn’t look like it was going away. She started asking for bigger stuff, saying, ‘I want to grow muscadines; I want to grow blueberries; I want to grow fruit trees, nut trees …’ and we knew this was not going away,” Ursula says.

Kendall’s accomplishments grew quickly, and by the time she was 6, she was recognized as the youngest certified farmer in the U.S. At 9, she received a full-ride scholarship in agriculture from South Carolina State University — the youngest to receive this honor as well. She’s gone on speaking tours, written a book and is about to publish an accompanying workbook, launched a marinara sauce and plans to create a natural skincare line. Then in 2023, a Georgia resolution declared that March 23 would be recognized as Kendall Rae Johnson Day. All by the ripe old age of 10.

When asked how it felt to receive the news of the scholarship, Kendall says, “Well, I just felt happy and excited that someone believed in me enough to give me a full-ride scholarship to college at only 10 years old.”

To educate other youth about agriculture, Kendall Rae Johnson created a book, “My Farm Biz,” that includes the steps to getting a USDA Youth Loan.

(Photo courtesy of Kendall Rae Johnson)

Once she’d found her passion for agriculture, with the help of her father, Quentin, the home-schooled Kendall started a 1-acre garden. Ursula says a typical day for the 10-year-old involves schoolwork with her dad while mom tends to emails and proposals. After schoolwork, Kendall and Quentin tackle farm work before it gets too hot, Ursula says. Once it’s too hot to work outdoors, Quentin and Kendall start working on ideas for future projects. In the evening, Ursula says the duo are back on the farm to work with the animals and other chores. In addition to the garden, Kendall has nine chickens, two ducks, a farm rabbit and two farm dogs.

When asked her father’s role in the farm, Kendall says, “He helps me by taking care of our farm animals and making sure that we don’t have any bad bugs on the farm,” adding that they maintain organic practices on the farm.

Kendall is surrounded by support from her parents and the community. For a fundraising event she holds in the fall, Kendall sells collard greens she grows. Since she’s limited to a 1-acre garden for now, local farmers offered her land to grow collard greens.

“These farmers, with hundreds of acres, told Kendall, ‘We understand you can’t grow all the collard greens for the city, so we’re going to help you out,’” Ursula says. “So, all she had to do was go pick out a spot, and the farmers helped her plant them and showed her how it’s done on a major scale — and then they took care of them from there. She just had to go pick them once they were ready.”

As a USDA National Urban Agriculture Youth Ambassador, Kendall says she wants to share her experience to help other youth achieve their dreams.

Starting when she was 3 years old, after her great-grandmother taught Kendall how to keep from wasting food by propagating collard greens from the grocery store, she knew plants, land and soil would herald her journey.

(Photo courtesy of Kendall Rae Johnson)

“I want them to know they can dream big and with the right tools and support, we can make those dreams come true,” Kendall says.

To educate other youth about agriculture, Kendall created a book, “My Farm Biz,” that includes the steps to getting a USDA Youth Loan .

It’s so important to learn about agriculture, Kendall says, because: “Everything is made as an added-value product from farm products, whether it’s a lemonade stand, cosmetics or even the cotton for the clothes we wear.”

The goal, she says, is to understand how to take raw products and make value-added products.

“I do believe that some adults are going to use this book, but teaching kids that there are so many ways that agriculture plays a part in business is her goal,” Ursula says.

Even with so much accomplished already, the future looks just as bright for the young farmer.

“I want 100 acres. I want to silvopasture cows. I want long corn, and I want to have my own skincare products,” Kendall says.

She adds that she plans to study agriculture in college and become a soil scientist. One can only imagine what she’ll have accomplished by then.

When asked what it has been like watching Kendall grow into this role and receiving national recognition at such a young age, Ursula says it has been a roller coaster of emotions.

“Emotionally, we have joyful tears, right? But at the same time, we have to have our joyful tear moment, and then we have to get back on the grind,” Ursula says.

“The goal is not for Kendall to be the only child in the world that has this accolade,” she adds. “It’s for us to get more kids excited about agriculture in some form or fashion, because the career paths and the pathways that it can ignite are everything.”

Growing Leaders: BoysGrow Fosters Agriculture and Opportunity for Kansas City’s Youth

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 20:37:27 GMT

Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing “Sowing Change” series about urban farming.

On a 10-acre plot in Kansas City, Mo., BoysGrow is growing young men into future leaders.

Founded by John Gordon Jr., the idea for BoysGrow was inspired by Gordon’s early work in the juvenile court system in Northern California. When he saw the transformation of a teenage boy tasked with tending his own goat and garden, he recognized the power of agriculture to build responsibility, work ethic and identity. That spark eventually led him to create BoysGrow, where Kansas City youth get that same chance to shape their futures.

Each year, the program serves about 75 boys aged 14 to 17, with another 75 students participating through school partnerships.

“Most kids come in with zero experience in agriculture or working on a farm,” Gordon says. “So, we have a blank template. That’s good, because we can shape and mold their approach to agriculture.”

Founded by John Gordon Jr. (pictured), the idea for BoysGrow was inspired by Gordon’s early work in the juvenile court system in Northern California.

(Photo courtesy of BoysGrow)

The boys commit to a two-year program, spending four days a week on the farm during the summer. They’re paid for their work, but the value goes far beyond a paycheck.

Each teen selects a “core team” — agriculture, mechanics, construction or culinary arts — and trains under a professional in that field. Together, they run the farm and learn the business side of agriculture. During the school year, BoysGrow extends its mission through vocational training partnerships with local high schools, offering juniors and seniors credit hours in mechanics, agriculture and construction.

For some participants, BoysGrow becomes a bridge to careers. Gordon shares about a foster child who joined the program with no clear path forward. The student developed a passion for blue-collar work and mechanics, Gordon says, and with BoysGrow’s connections, secured a full-time job as a diesel mechanic after high school graduation.

“We were able to pique his interest and then be the bridge between something he might want to do and something he’s actually doing,” Gordon says.

Entrepreneurship is another cornerstone of BoysGrow. Each class develops a keystone project, creating products or merchandise from scratch — everything from hot sauces and salsas to apparel. Students design recipes, packaging and marketing, then bring the products to market.

While BoysGrow’s value-added goods once appeared in more than a dozen retailers, production has been scaled back due to the labor-intensive nature of food processing. Still, the lessons stick.

“Every year, the kids develop something from start to finish, and they get to see it go to market,” Gordon says.

Each year, BoysGrow serves about 75 boys aged 14 to 17, with another 75 students participating through school partnerships.

(Photo courtesy of BoysGrow)

The agricultural work itself is equally vital. BoysGrow operates with 100% organic and regenerative practices, teaching participants about soil health, pest management and sustainable farming. The farm spans about 3 acres of produce, with new expansions into greenhouse and container farming.

“We have a shipping container converted into a salad production farm and a 3,600-square-foot greenhouse that allows year-round vegetable production,” Gordon says.

Though technically within city limits, the property is surrounded by 400 acres — what Gordon calls “peri-urban,” close enough for an easy commute but rural enough to offer a true slice of farm life.

Running a farm with teenagers brings its challenges.

“The biggest challenges we face are weather and teenagers,” Gordon joked, adding that funding remains a hurdle. As grant opportunities shift, BoysGrow is working to diversify support and demonstrate the program’s broader value.

“Teaching kids about agriculture has value beyond just the plants,” Gordon says. “It serves a bigger purpose in developing young people, teaching work ethic and engaging them with the outdoors and the land.”

For Kansas City’s next generation, BoysGrow is proving that a farm can be fertile ground for leaders.

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Piney Woods Farm Wins Organic Stewardship Award for Regenerative Ag

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 20:50:36 GMT

The Rodale Institute — a nonprofit that focuses on advancing regenerative agriculture through research, education and consulting — recently awarded Jessica Breaux, executive director of Piney Woods Farm with its 2025 Organic Stewardship Award.

Piney Woods Farm is a 100-acre diversified charitable non-profit farm in LaGrange, Ga. It focuses on building soil health and microbial biodiversity, particularly through its biocomplete composting system. It donates produce to local food banks, organizations and communities and offers educational workshops.

De’Anthony Price, southeast organic consultant for Rodale Institute, says Piney Woods Farm is “a great example of what a living, working farming system can look like when you put soil health first and when you put social fairness first.”

Regarding the award, he added: “Jessica is a deserving farmer in Georgia. She is doing exactly what we push farmers to do, and that is implementing more regenerative farming systems.”

De’Anthony Price, southeast organic consultant for Rodale Institute (left) and Jessica Breaux, executive director of Piney Woods Farm (right)

(Photo courtesy of Rodale Institute)

Though Piney Woods Farm has hosted a few tours for Rodale, the award came as a surprise to Breaux.

“At first, I was surprised that we were on Rodale’s radar because they are such an inspiration for us. They are so big and doing such big things,” she says. “That they actually saw our little farm here in LaGrange — we’re very honored. Extremely honored and very humbled.”

She adds that, while her name is on the award itself, it really is an award for Piney Woods Farm and everyone who helps make it what it is today. She called out two in particular.

“There’s no way that this farm would be where it is today if it wasn’t for our consultant Fred Turner. He’s the instigator pushing us forward with innovation and always looking for the newest, best ways to grow the most nutrient dense food. And our farm manager Derek Kelly who actually implements everything. When those two get together — our consultant and our farm manager — I kind of sit there in awe and ask ‘How can I help?’”

What makes Piney Woods Farm special

For both Breaux and Price, it’s Piney Woods Farm’s intense focus on soil health through biodiversity that really sets it apart.

“We are more interested in growing healthy microbe-rich, biodiverse soil and compost than anything else,” Breaux says. “That’s where it starts from. That is your base.”

Piney Woods Farm builds that base in part through its biocomplete composting efforts. This includes what it calls its Farm Lab and Farm Fertility Center.

Speaking of the lab, Breaux says it is “where we actually test any inputs, any extracts and the soil. We are looking at the different microbes and we are identifying them. We’re making sure there aren’t any bad actors. We’re actually counting them in some cases to see how many we have. What are the fungi? How big is it? Is it healthy looking? Then we know what we have before we can put it out there.”

The focus on soil health is paramount at Piney Woods Farm, far above thinking about the produce, Breaux says.

I think more people are interested in that tomato than they are in what it is that the plant actually needs to grow that tomato,” she offers as an example. “But if you give the plant what it needs, it will give you a more delicious, nutrient-dense tomato.”

The farm’s focus on soil health makes it a great example of regenerative, organic farming in action, Price says.

“When you talk about regenerative organic agriculture you have three main key pillars and that is soil health, livestock integration and social fairness,” he says.

He explains that the social fairness element is not only creating a farming system that produces nutrient dense food, but that provides a safe, sustainable living for both the farmer and farm workers.

“And also within social fairness, I always like to say highlight the community engagement piece, where you’re actually creating a food system and an equitable food system that has full access to everyone.”

Touring Piney Woods Farm

Members of the local community to LaGrange, Georgia toured Piney Woods Farm and got to taste test various tomato varieties.

(Photo courtesy of Rodale Institute)

That community-focused part of regenerative organic farming was on display during the Rodale Institute’s farm tour on Piney Woods Farm that coincided with the award.

“It was a beautiful day,” says Price, who organized the event as an educational workshop. “Not only were attendees able to learn more about regenerative organic farming systems, but they had firsthand learning sessions about organic tomato production, and they were really able to join in the community and celebration to highlight and recognize Piney Woods farm as the 2025 Rodale Institute Organic Stewardship Award winner.”

The event included a tour of Piney Woods Farm, particularly its composting facility, and a pair of learning sessions about growing organic tomatoes.

“The goal of the workshop was to educate growers and farmers about regenerative organic practices with the highlight on tomato production,” says Price, who is a farmer himself who grows tomatoes.

Breaux reports a lot of participant questions centered on interest in soil health, what it means and the logistics of how bio-complete composting works. Attendees ranged from new farmers, small farmers, backyard hobbyists and gardeners, to community members who were interested but who had no interest in growing.

Breaux says she was humbled by the response.

“I was kind of blown away by the community support and the support from Rodale and the interest in what we’re doing here at Piney Woods Farm.”

Regenerative Organic Certified: WFG, Gilbert Orchards Lead the Way in Apples and Cherries

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:27:05 GMT

Washington Fruit Growers and grower-partner Gilbert Orchards are officially Regenerative Organic Certified, the highest standard in organic agriculture, for their apple and cherry orchards.

The certification marks a significant milestone in the companies’ shared commitment to environmental responsibility and farmworker well-being, according to a news release.

Regenerative Organic Certified is an add-on to USDA Organic and emphasizes three core pillars: soil health and land management, animal welfare, and social fairness. Both Washington Fruit and Gilbert Orchards have been practicing most ROC principles for years, but the certification validates their leadership in sustainable and ethical farming, the release says.

“Becoming Regenerative Organic Certified means we practice a long-term view of organic farming,” says Gilbert Plath, chief sustainability officer for Washington Fruit Growers. “It’s about caring for our workers, restoring the health of our soil and leaving this land better than we found it. Now we have a recognized standard that holds us accountable and sets us apart.”

As part of the ROC process, Washington Fruit Growers and Gilbert Orchards have expanded their efforts to enhance biodiversity through beneficial gardens, integrated pest management, protecting local waterways and their associated riparian zones, and continued refinement of how they support their workforce, the release says.

In addition, Washington Fruit says it is exploring carbon-negative practices like the use of biochar. When trees must be removed from orchards, instead of burning, chipping or landfilling them, the company has begun converting them into biochar — a regenerative process that sequesters carbon and produces a soil amendment that can enhance composting and improve soil structure.

“This certification reinforces what we’ve believed for a long time: sustainability is not just good for the land, it’s a foundation for a stronger company culture and a healthier future,” Plath adds. “It empowers our teams to take pride in their role as stewards of the land and advocates for meaningful change in agriculture.”

Sean Gilbert, owner of Gilbert Orchards, emphasizes that the certification reflects both their history and future direction.

“Our family has been farming organically since the 1980s,” Gilbert says. “When I learned about Regenerative Organic, I was inspired by how it looks at the farm as a holistic system — where healthy soil, thriving ecosystems and strong communities are all interconnected. It closely aligned with practices we were already implementing, but more importantly, it pointed us toward where I want our company to go next. It’s about doing the right thing, not just for our crops, but for our people and our environment.”

Both companies are committed to communicating their sustainability practices directly to customers and industry partners. Through long-standing relationships, open dialogue, and shared values, Washington Fruit Growers and Gilbert Orchards are working to highlight the importance of regenerative organic farming in the broader food system, the release says.

“We see this certification as a tool for building trust and transparency with our customers,” Gilbert says. “It helps us demonstrate that our farming practices are rooted in responsibility and long-term thinking, and it supports deeper conversations about how we grow food and take care of the people and places that make it possible.”

According to the release, this achievement positions Washington Fruit Growers and Gilbert Orchards at the forefront of the regenerative agriculture movement and among the first in Washington’s fruit industry to adopt this forward-thinking standard.

To learn more, visit Washington Fruit Growers at the Organic Produce Summit, Booth No. 238.

Homegrown Organic Farms Now Offers Regenerative Organic Certified Blueberries

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:51:49 GMT

The Porterville, Calif.-based Homegrown Organic Farms will offer a selection of Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) blueberries from its AgriCare-managed Oregon farms this season. Four Oregon farms under AgriCare’s care have earned this certification, according to the company, which added that its ROC offerings include organic stone fruit and fall fruit commodities.

“As an employee-owned company, we take our mission seriously: to exceed expectations, care for people and do what’s right for the land,” says Scott Mabs, CEO of Homegrown Organic Farm. “Adding Regenerative Organic Certified blueberries from Oregon strengthens our commitment to delivering quality fruit through practices that reflect our values.”

“We’ve always believed that responsible farming is good farming,” says Gunnar Avinelis, CEO of AgriCare. “Achieving Regenerative Organic Certified status on our Oregon farms reflects decades of dedication to regenerative principles and the people who make it possible.”

Developed by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, the ROC standard builds on the USDA National Organic Program. It adds benchmarks focused on soil health, carbon sequestration and economic fairness across farming communities.

“We’ve seen incredible momentum across our Regenerative Organic Certified programs,” says Stephen Paul, deciduous category director and ROC stone fruit grower. “As both a marketer and a farmer, I’ve seen firsthand how regenerative organic practices improve the health of our orchards and the quality of our fruit. The Oregon blueberry crop is a natural and exciting extension of this journey, and we’re proud to offer this to customers who care about how their fruit is grown.”

ROC blueberries from Oregon are available now through the end of summer, according to Homegrown Organic Farms.

North Carolina’s Altar Cross Farms Expands Organic Blueberry Production by 63%

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:01:19 GMT

For Altar Cross Farms, a family-run organic blueberry farm in Ivanhoe, N.C., the time was right to expand. Driven by growing demand from both national and local retailers for its organic berries, the family expanded production by 63% this year and is now harvesting from 65 certified organic acres.

“We own 40 acres of organic blueberries, but this is our first year with expanded acreage,” says Roy Sykes, owner of Altar Cross Farms. “We had the opportunity to lease 65 acres from a neighboring organic farm, which was a huge blessing. To be able to grow that much in such a short amount of time, and right when demand was picking up, just felt like the right thing falling into place at the right time.”

This season marked the most productive blueberry crop Altar Cross Farms has had in five years, says Sykes, who co-owns the farm with his wife, Donna Sykes, and operates it with their daughters.

Altar Cross Farms grows organic blueberries.

(Photo courtesy of Happy Dirt)

“Several factors helped with the crop this year, like a really cold winter and no hard spring freezes,” says Sykes. “The early rain hurt some of our early varieties a bit, but it didn’t put a dent in overall production. Honestly, our blueberry crop on our personal 40 acres alone would’ve been extremely robust with the weather we had, so with 65 acres, you can only imagine how strong the season has been.”

The farm’s location in eastern North Carolina is also prime for blueberry production, says Sykes.

“One of the main reasons North Carolina, especially eastern North Carolina, is such a good place to grow blueberries is the soil,” he says. “We’ve got sandy, acidic soil here — exactly what blueberries like. You don’t see a whole lot of blueberries grown farther west because the soil just isn’t right for it. You can amend the soil and make it work, sure, but that adds cost. Then you’re competing with folks who can just stick plants in the ground and let them go, while you’re out there trying to fix the soil first.”

Altar Cross Farms’ expansion was also bolstered by an investment in mechanical upgrades that contributed to its success this season.

Altar Cross Farms has made investments in equipment.

(Photo courtesy of Happy Dirt)

“We’ve made a lot of upgrades to our packing line over the last couple of years that have really helped us work more efficiently,” says Morgan Sykes, Altar Cross Farms sales and packing manager and Roy Sykes’ daughter. “In 2022, we invested in a color sorter that pulls out anything that’s not the right shade for a ripe blueberry, which has made grading so much simpler. We also added an automatic clamshell filler and a labeler, and both have cut down a lot on the time and cost it used to take to pack and hand-label everything.”

Happy Dirt Helps Expand Network

Happy Dirt, a North Carolina-based organic produce grower and distributor, handles the majority of Altar Cross Farms’ sales, helping the Sykes family bring their organic berries to a wide network of wholesale and retail partners across the Southeast.

“In 2024, we saw a noticeable uptick in demand specifically for North Carolina–grown organic blueberries, which mirrors the national trend toward increased interest in organic berries overall,” says Alex Borst, Happy Dirt purchasing manager. “You can find Happy Dirt organic blueberries, grown by Altar Cross Farms, up and down the East Coast.

“We’re always working to develop new customer outlets because we know demand will continue to rise,” Borst continues. “From May through August, we’re proud to meet that need with blueberries from farmer-partners like Altar Cross, especially when the crop looks as good as it does this year.”

Altar Cross Farms is planted with a diverse varietal mix, including O’Neal, Duke, Legacy, New Hanover and Powder Blue to supports a harvest window stretching from mid-May through August.

Fair Food Certification

Altar Cross Farms also recently became Fair Food Program certified. The Fair Food Program is a partnership among farmers, farmworkers and retail companies that seeks to ensure humane wages and working conditions.

“When Happy Dirt brought it up to us, it just sounded like a really good fit,” says Morgan Sykes of the program. “It’s mostly just our family working here, but we have other folks who help out as well. And the whole idea behind Fair Food Certification, which is treating your workers right and making sure folks are taken care of, that’s already how we do things. So, it just made sense. It felt like a natural step for us, especially as we continue to grow.”

But despite the operation’s growth, Morgan Sykes says the family remains rooted in its founding values.

“We’re still mostly family doing this,” she says. “We’ve built the infrastructure to scale but kept our values the same.”

Del Fresco Pure to Attend Organic Produce Summit

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:22:18 GMT

Ontario-based greenhouse grower Del Fresco Pure, recently announced its inaugural participation in the Organic Produce Summit taking place from July 9-10 at the Monterey Convention Center in Monterey, Calif. Del Fresco Pure will be at booth No. 1002 showcasing its full line of organic greenhouse-grown cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers.

The company says it was proud to present its range of organic, greenhouse-grown produce to consumers increasingly concerned with sustainability.

“Our entry into the Organic Produce Summit marks a significant milestone for Del Fresco Pure,” says Ray Mastronardi, vice president of sales at Del Fresco Pure, in a news release. “We are excited to showcase our dedication to sustainable agriculture and introduce our greenhouse-grown produce to a broader audience.”

Del Fresco Pure will be showcasing its organic seedless English cucumbers at the event. They are free from seeds, certified organic and provide a healthy, convenient option for consumers, the company says.

“Our organic seedless English Cucumbers are a testament to our dedication to producing exceptional greenhouse-grown vegetables,” Mastronardi says. “We are committed to providing our customers with nutritious and delicious produce that meets the highest standards of organic greenhouse grown produce.”

In addition to its seedless English cucumbers, Del Fresco Pure also plans to highlight other examples of its offerings at the summit, including:

Organic tomatoes on the vine
Organic mini cucumbers
Organic rainbow sweet peppers

The company says it plans to highlight its recent Equitable Food Initiative Certification.

“Achieving EFI certification is a significant milestone for Del Fresco Pure,” Mastronardi says. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a positive impact on our workforce and the environment. We believe that sustainable practices are essential to the future of agriculture, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this movement.”

Study shows promise for organic vegetable growers

Wed, 21 May 2025 17:57:28 GMT

Preliminary results from a from a two-year suggest high-residue cover cropping is “a promising tool,” according to a news release from the Rodale Institute’s California Organic Center. The study compared high-residue cover crops and termination methods on weed suppression, soil moisture retention and yield in organic vegetable production.

The center said the practice could help organic growers seeking to transition away from plastic mulch.

“I think this system has a future,” COC Research Director Arianna Bozzolo told The Packer.

Study overview and findings

The study compared two high-residue cover cropping mixes: oats and vetch, as well as oats and field peas. It also examined tillage or roller crimper termination methods.

Researchers compared these experimental efforts and a fallow control in 2023 and 2024. The cover crops were seeded in March, then terminated in June. Organic pumpkins were planted in late-June and early-July, then harvested in November. The test crop was under drip irrigation to simulate local growing conditions.

COC called the preliminary results promising. It reported the oat and field peas mix terminated via crimping had the most cover-crop biomass at 2,741 pounds per acre. Weed biomass was “significantly lower” in crimped cover crop plots compared to either the tilled plots or the control plot, the center noted.

On soil health metrics, the center said soil moisture was consistently higher in the crimped plots versus the others. This trend continued into the hotter parts of the summer as well. On yields, COC reported the oat and vetch cover crop — especially the crimped termination version — produced more pumpkins per acre.

“These findings suggest that even in the first year of transition, cover crop-based no-till systems — particularly those using oat/vetch mixtures — can support competitive yields while delivering additional soil health and weed suppression benefits,” COC concluded.

The study ran in Camarillo, Calif. Funding came from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Healthy Soils Program .

Study designed with growers in mind

Bozzolo said researchers try to keep the needs of organic growers in mind when designing studies. They chose oats as part of the cover cropping mix for their ability to produce a lot of biomass and selected legumes for the nitrogen fixation abilities, though there were other factors involved in the legume selection.

“I particularly like the peas because the peas can give an additional income to the growers,” she said, adding that many small farmers in the area have found success selling pea tendrils for salad and fresh markets.

“Especially here where we are so close to LA, it’s easy to reach out to local restaurants that are interested in these types of crops,” Bozzolo said. “It’s a little niche, something you don’t find in the store.”

Organic growers in California don’t often use cover cropping, she said. High-value specialty crops plus a year-round growing climate makes giving up two to three months for a cover crop unattractive, so Bozzolo said she tries to test cover crops that might hold an economic opportunity for growers.

Some commercial organic farms are trying cover cropping systems for the soil health benefits — but they approach it differently, Bozzolo said.

“Maybe they don’t allocate a whole three months for cover cropping, but they’re doing intercropping,” she said.

Bozzolo described it as looking like “a mohawk of cover crop” between rows of salad greens or broccoli, for example.

“People are trying to include [cover crops],” she said. “They are doing as much as they can to improve soil health, but it’s challenging here.”

Potential for all organic vegetables

While the study was targeted, and Bozzolo stressed the need for more research, she said the concept has the potential for wider application.

“The high-residue cover-cropping system is a system that can be applied to several different kinds of crops,” she said.

The COC research farm had another high-residue cover-cropping trial running on peppers, eggplants and zucchini, for example. However, Bozzolo said finding an efficient way to terminate the cover crops is a challenge.

“If we can find a way to terminate the cover cropping efficiently, that will a good step toward having this system that can be scaled up basically in every state where you can grow vegetables.”

Land of opportunity: Carolina growers thrive with diverse crops and conditions

Mon, 19 May 2025 21:06:52 GMT

The Carolinas are unique states for growing fresh produce. The region represents a lot of climate and topographical diversity in a small space. Whether north or south, this diversity forces growers to be creative, adaptable and future-focused to meet evolving consumer demands in the face of sometimes unforgiving settings.

North Carolina boasts several high ranks across different types of fresh produce. It is the nation’s top producer of sweetpotatoes, its official state vegetable, for example. According to 2023 cash receipts (most recent complete USDA data), the state ranked fifth in the nation for blueberries, fresh and processing cucumbers and peanuts; sixth in the nation for other cucumbers, bell peppers and pumpkins; and seventh in the nation for squash and watermelons.

The state’s success with many different produce owes a lot to its physical variety.

“North Carolina is so fortunate and blessed that we have so many different topographies and soil types, as well as climate zones, in our singular state,” said Michelle Grainger, executive director of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission.

Producers use this variety to their benefit. The folks at Happy Dirt, a produce distribution company with 16 farmer owners across the state, gave the example of their lettuce farms distributed across the state for strategic purposes.

“We’ve been utilizing the topography of having some mountain farms to extend our season,” said Alex Borst, purchasing manager for Happy Dirt. “We’ve got a good, solid, late-April-to-mid-June lettuce program now.”

South Carolina peaches benefit from having adequate chill hours, the conditions for which emerge with the state’s hot, humid summers and cool winters with a lot of moisture in the air, says Blakely Atkinson, executive director of the South Carolina Peach Council.

(Photo courtesy of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture)

Not to be outdone, South Carolinian growers take pride in the variety their state brings to the southeast.

“We are a small state, but we do so much,” said Eva Moore, communications director for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, adding that the state has a broad produce portfolio. “And, of course, we’re the ‘Tastier Peach State.’”

In 2023, South Carolina was second in the nation for peaches, sixth for peanuts and eighth for watermelons. That said, the state also grows crops rarely tracked by USDA, such as turnip greens and collards.

The South Carolinian claim of being the tastier peach state stems from its unique climate. Blakely Atkinson, executive director of the South Carolina Peach Council, explained that peach trees need a certain number of chill hours to set fruit and heat to make that fruit sweet. South Carolina gets that, she said, with hot, humid summers and cool winters with a lot of moisture in the air.

Weather woes add up

Produce growers in the Carolinas have been hard-hit lately from a series of extreme weather events. For example, those cold winters needed for peach setting went a bit overboard in 2023 when a late-season cold snap resulted in 70% crop loss.

“That was the state estimation loss,” Atkinson said. “Some people were able to squeak by, but some were hit worse. One of my growers had a 99% crop loss.”

Last year also saw some extreme weather events that greatly affected Carolina producers. Grainger called it a brutal year.

“North Carolina was just battered from the mountains to the sea and everywhere in between,” she said, explaining that right after the sweetpotato crop was transplanted, the state got hit with drought.

“Then we had three storms: Hurricane Debbie, Tropical Cyclone Eight and the tail end of Hurricane Helene,” Grainger said. “We had all the conditions that you could possibly have between the months of June and November, and it netted us a loss of anywhere between 40% to 45% of yield.”

Sim McIver, assistant director of domestic marketing at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, estimated 2024’s extreme weather cost North Carolina agriculture $5 billion. The disasters wiped out fields and destroyed infrastructure throughout the state.

Some operations were relatively lucky, however. Tendwell Farm co-owner Steven Beltram said that its packing shed was spared. While the company had a lot of equipment damage, it was repairable. The roads and bridges are back in place in the area, and tractor trailers can get in and out of the packing house again.

“We were very fortunate in that none of our fields were permanently damaged,” Beltram said.

North Carolina’s diversity in topography, soil and climate benefit growing areas throughout the state. “We’ve been utilizing the topography of having some mountain farms to extend our season,” said Alex Borst, purchasing manager for Happy Dirt. “We’ve got a good, solid, late-April to mid-June lettuce program now.”

(Photo courtesy of Happy Dirt)

Diverse varieties, growing methods

The increased demand for more variety, be that new crops, new growing styles or new varieties of familiar crops, and growers rising to meet that demand was a constant thread across the Carolinas.

“We are seeing producers investing in produce, putting their energy there and diversifying,” Moore said.

She highlighted that vegetable acreage in South Carolina expanded dramatically since the last Census of Agriculture. Taylor Holenbeck, grower services coordinator for Happy Dirt, said there has been a movement in growing organic vegetables in the South, in general.

But the trend for more diversity isn’t just relegated to vegetables. Both McIver and Moore noted growth in berry interest, strawberries specifically in North Carolina and berries overall in South Carolina.

“Berry sales by South Carolina producers more than tripled between 2017 and 2022, from $13 million to $44.3 million,” Moore explained, adding that a group of growers recently founded the South Carolina Small Fruit Growers Association. “Some of our large farms have been adding small fruit to diversify.”

Several of the groups The Packer spoke to highlighted plans for expanding into new crops or expanding existing variety due to increased demand. The farms that Happy Dirt works with planted more acres of organic strawberries this year, for example. Holenbeck said the company is working with smaller farms to grow specialty eggplant, cherry tomatoes and specialty peppers.

“We’re just trying to really up our specialty game with our smaller farms so our larger farms can crank out the volume items we need,” Holenbeck said. “We’re increasing acreage in micro ways on these smaller, hyperspecialty products. That’s been really exciting.”

Consumer interest in new varieties of familiar crops has been strong lately in the Carolinas as well. Interest in sweetpotato varieties is growing, for example, especially for the purple-skinned, white-fleshed murasaki varietal.

Grainger said this push for different varieties started in the culinary world, then got picked up by social media influencers. She also cited the impact of the Netflix’s series “The Blue Zone,” which focused on areas of the world where populations live exceptionally long lives.

“The very first episode of this series was in Japan and within the first few minutes of that episode they were talking about the purple sweetpotato,” she said. “The individuals being interviewed expressed how important that sweetpotato is to their daily diet and they were attributing their longevity to it.”

Sweetpotatoes aren’t the only crop with growing varietal interest from consumers. Atkinson noted that consumers are also inquiring more about different peach varieties.

“We live in a society that is constantly wanting to learn, and consumers are really concerned about where their food is coming from,” she said. “So, they are asking questions and want to be educated on their food, and that’s great.”

A focus on sustainable produce

Expanding into new crops and new varieties aren’t the only ways Carolina growers are trying to serve their consumers better. New, different and more sustainable packaging that caters to customer needs was a frequently cited trend.

“Simplicity and affordability are huge with today’s consumers,” said McIver. “Simple recipes and affordable price options; pre-cut, ready-to -eat produce is gaining popularity. Any kind of value-added time-savers.”

The Nashville, N.C.-based fresh produce packer, shipper and marketer Nash Produce aims to meet those convenience needs.

“That’s where some of these new packaging strategies come in handy,” said Robin Narron, marketing director and sales support for Nash Produce. “For example, if you have a family of two, it’s easy to just grab two sweetpotatoes. But if you have a family of four, you can grab our 4-pack. You don’t have to sort through the bulk bin and worry about different cook times because ours are electronically sized to be as consistent as possible.”

Narron said the company strives to cater to the needs of its customers, be they the end consumer or retail customers.

“We have to do what’s popular in different areas. In some regions, for example, the larger sweetpotatoes are more popular, while in other areas, the smaller size are more popular,” she said. “So, we try to deliver whatever our customer base needs. If it’s something that we don’t have, we try to innovate something that would work for them.”

For Happy Dirt, changes in the way it packages its sweetpotatoes have not only served its customers but also its growers.

“Over the past couple of years, we’ve really worked on our packaged sweetpotato program. Our 3-pound bags have been really successful,” Holenbeck said. “It’s
really helped our farmers, because they can put their smaller potatoes in those bags. Before, they would often just leave them in the field and not even pick them up because they couldn’t sell them. So, we’ve created, not necessarily a new market, but a new market for our farmers.”

Making better use of a harvest through packaging strategies is one way to improve sustainability. Some groups reported addressing sustainability issues directly with packaging, however.

“At Nash Produce, we are constantly working on sustainability projects,” said Narron. Part of this is innovation with packaging materials. “We’re trying to branch out into more eco-friendly packaging materials. Trying to get away from Styrofoam trays and trying to bring in more disposable or biodegradable packaging materials.”

Beltram observed another interesting sustainability-minded trend in his area among his neighbors.

“I don’t know if it’s on account of what we’re doing, but over the past 15 years, a lot of the conventional growers starting to incorporate sustainable practices,” he said.

Beltram said he’s started seeing a lot of conventional growers in his area starting to incorporate cover crops, something the all-organic Tendwell is proud of.

He also spoke about a different sustainability issue: the continuation of agriculture in the area. With Tendwell being a first-generation farm, this is a near-and-dear issue.

“Here in the mountains you see a lot of older folks who have been doing what they’re doing for a long time. As they’re starting to age out and they’re doing less farming, there’s not much of a new generation coming on,” he said. “So, we have a lot of really supportive neighbors. They are really happy about what we’re doing.”

Tendwell Farm has found that increased diversity of crops helps them meet consumer’s evolving demands.

(Photo courtesy of Tendwell Farm)

A look to the future

Tendwell is installing an optical sorter to speed up tomato sorting this summer.

“So, that should give our grape tomato pack a little more uniformity as far as sizing and color goes,” Beltram said. “We’re pretty excited about putting that machine in place this summer.”

Happy Dirt is also looking forward to infrastructure changes at its farms.

Borst said the company has been conducting trials on high and low tunnels. The trials have suggested ways tunnels can be used to mitigate the threats of disease and weather, extending their seasons on various specialty crops and increasing the consistency of the crops, said Holenbeck, adding that increasing infrastructure at the farms is a goal this summer.

For South Carolina peaches, the near future will mean spreading the goodness.

“New this year is the expansion of exports,” Atkinson said. “One of our larger farms has already been exporting to Mexico, but there has been expansion this year, and I think that is something that is pretty exciting.”

She added that expansion of export into Canada was also something the South Carolina peach industry is working on. “We’re already up there, but to say that we’re still growing is really something.”

South Carolina at large has also been working on recent and new efforts to connect local growers with consumers. Moore noted the recently launched Certified South Carolina Showcase, which just held its third annual event in late March.

“It grew out of a smaller effort to get growers and buyers in the same room, but we expanded it, and now it’s held at the big convention center here in Columbia,” she said. “It’s producers who are part of our big Certified South Carolina branding program, and they exhibit trade-show style.”

She also said the state is working on a portal for school food authorities to find and connect with local producers.

“Farms and producers that are looking to scale up and be able to serve markets in their communities often are interested in working with schools, so we are going to have an interface where that can happen,” Moore said. “It will be a portal where producers and distributors can list what they have available and their contact information, and on the other side school food authorities can make those connections.”

In both Carolinas, the emphasis on growing research is strong.

“Historically, the South has been largely ignored when it comes to developing varieties for our climate specifically,” Holenbeck explained. That has changed recently with the growing demand for growing produce, especially organic produce, in the southeast.”

“One of the reasons why North Carolina is as strong as we are in sweetpotato production is because of our growers and their close relationship with the research institutions,” Grainger said. She pointed to work at institutions such as North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T, the University of Mount Olive and across the Cooperative Extension System.

“North Carolina has an incredible Cooperative Extension Program that spans our entire state; all 100 counties have an office,” she said. “Our growers work side by side with individuals from each of these institutions, and they adopt research, they provide facilities and work with those who are trying to promote and progress the industry.”

Research efforts, both public and in private companies, are strong in South Carolina as well to find varieties that work for the state’s climate, Moore said, pointing to examples of heat-tolerant butter beans and peach varieties that can withstand the warmer weather of summers in the South.

“The climate here is, for lack of a better word, very volatile,” Holenbeck said. “To be adaptable within that is very important for our farmers and the longevity and sustainability of growing in the southeast.”

Getting to zero waste with California dates

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:25:35 GMT

Organic California date brand Joolies and the farms behind it have dedicated themselves to preventing food waste. They do this with creative strategies for sustainability and using all of their date harvest.

“When you see the amount of waste, you want to do something about that,” Amanda Sains-Harris, vice president of marketing at Joolies, told The Packer of American food system. Joolies, the Kohl Family Farm behind the brand, and “sister organization” Desert Valley Date all have ways they tackle this issue.

Getting to 100% harvest utilization

Joolies, the date brand, focuses on driving demand for fresh dates. Noting that dates are not as colorful as most fresh produce and packaging was traditionally drab or clear plastic, Sains said when Joolies launched, the goal was to do something different.

“We wanted to create a brand and use a brand color that, when people see it, they say ‘Oh! That’s Joolies!’” she said. “We made the packaging look like something that people want to share with their friends, whether it’s online or at home or in their kitchens.”

When Joolies launched, the goal was to have eye-catching packaging that stood out from other dates.

(Graphic courtesy of Joolies)

For those less-than-photogenic fresh dates, Joolies also created the “Ugglies” line. “Not every date is up to spec, but they’re still delicious and still usable,” Sains said.

Both Joolies and sister organization Desert Valley Date — which grows and processes dates and uses all of its crop — pursue the goal of 100% harvest utilization through producing and using date ingredients. Joolies offers its Date Pops, made with date paste, while Desert Valley Date supplies date manufactured ingredients including date paste, chopped dates, date rolls and other items.

“They realized, because of the great benefits of dates, and because of the rise of health food, that there’s ways to utilize things like date paste,” Sains said.

Getting to 100% harvest utilization took time for Desert Valley Date. Sains explained that the farm started in 1985, but by 1990, the company realized the need to process its dates to better utilize the crop. It built a facility that allowed for sorting, grading, storing and processing millions of pounds of both medjool and deglet dates annually. Those efforts have even helped smaller California date growers better utilize their harvests as well, according to Sains.

“Other growers go to Desert Valley Date to find a home for the excess dates and low grade dates where they can be processed as ingredients,” she said.

Being sustainable and reducing waste in other areas

All three groups have their own ways of improving sustainability and reducing waste. Joolies’ packaging, for example, started off as recyclable boxes.

“Now we’re in a resealable, stand up pouch made from post consumer recycled plastic,” Sains said. “Even though we can’t be in our paper boxes anymore, we still try to make the most environmentally conscious decisions on our packaging.”

Desert Valley Date use solar power to offset its energy needs. The farms also utilize the old fronds at the end of harvest season, grinding them and using them to cover the soil in the orchards.

“It’s similar concept to mulch or compost where you’re taking the nutrients from the plant and the leftover fruit, if any, and putting that carbon and nutrients back into the soil,” Sains explained.

Even the date pits have a home. Sains said the pits processed at Desert Valley Date get sold to a nearby cattle operation to be incorporated into the feed. Though she added that there have been inquiries about using the fiber- and fat-rich pits for things like alternative teas or beverages.

“I think with this rise in date awareness, and also upcycling, we’re starting to see a demand in that,” Sains said.

Sains stressed the importance of looking outside the box for opportunities to reduce waste and increase harvest utilization. She recommended growers look for ways their produce could be used as a raw material for other products, much as dates are often seen as sweeteners and binders in energy bars.

“I think the world is looking for better ingredients all around, and if you can figure out a way that your fruit or vegetable can be included as an ingredient, then start creating those partnerships. Or, if it’s already available as an ingredient, create partnerships with other small companies that are trying to do the right thing.”

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Huckaby urges USDA organic program to keep pace with market

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:42:21 GMT

The future of organic farming will depend on the federal government keeping pace with the organic marketplace, Jeff Huckaby told the House Agriculture Committee on Oct. 30.

Huckaby, president of Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic , testified before the Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee hearing as part of a grower panel reviewing the state of organic agriculture.

“We need the support of Congress to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture not only has the resources to maintain, enforce, and develop organic standards but also to provide oversight and accountability when the regulatory process fails to move forward the standards demanded by the organic sector,” he told lawmakers. “To continue to provide choices for consumers and economic opportunities for farmers, the public-private partnership between USDA and the organic industry must continue to grow.”

Huckaby said organic farming must include continuous improvement and “evolution of the organic standards to meet consumer expectations.”

“The federal government must move rapidly to implement standards that farmers and the industry recommend through the National Organic Standards Board,” he said.

Taking off

Grimmway Farms acquired Cal-Organic Farms in 2001 and expanded organic acreage.

“We are the sole supplier to Costco for baby carrots , and have worked with this leading retailer to transition 100% of the carrots sold in their stores to certified organic,” according to his testimony. “We are also the leading supplier of organic vegetables to most of the major retailers throughout the nation.”

He said Cal-Organic grows more than 65 commodities on more than 45,000 acres in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Georgia and Florida.

He noted that the company expanded its operation to Georgia and Florida with the acquisition of Generation Farms in Lake Park, Georgia. This week, he said Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic started its first organic harvest in that region consisting of more than 10 vegetables.

“While the climate in the southeast is significantly different than California, we are finding ways to produce high-quality organic vegetables,” he said.

In his testimony and responses to lawmakers, Huckaby also stressed the need for more certainty around the supply of a legal agricultural workers for U.S. farmers.

Huckaby also said that giving financial support to help conventional growers make the three-year transition to organic certification would be one way for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue to build the momentum of organic farming,

“0rganic is a bright spot in U.S. agriculture with tremendous opportunity to change the future of our food system,” Huckaby said in his statement. “As consumers become increasingly interested in sustainable food production, nutrition and quality, organic farming can provide a path forward to improve the state of agriculture in the U.S.”

Looking to the future

Huckaby said that organic farming has grown rapidly over the past two decades, from an $8 billion-a-year industry when USDA issued the National Organic Program standards in 2002 to more than $52 billion now. Fresh produce is a big part of the popularity of organic, he said.

“While organic produce previously enjoyed rapid double-digit growth, it leveled off to a healthy growth rate of 5.6% in 2018,” he said. That is still well above the growth rate of all produce of 1.7%, he said..

He said plenty of opportunity remains with organic farming.

“Consumers are looking for high-quality produce and desire variety and year-round availability,” he said.

“As more Americans incorporate fresh produce into their diets, an opportunity exists for farmers who are willing to think outside the box.”

The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Exposition & Conference (GOPEX) provides a forum to meet the rapidly changing needs of professionals who grow, distribute, pack and market organic produce. This international trade show and conference provides the ideal opportunity for organic produce professionals from around the world to network, exchange ideas, source new products and services, and do business with the industry’s leading growers, distributors, packers, marketers and retailers.

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USDA: Now is time to respond to specialties, organic surveys

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:18:53 GMT

Now is the time to respond to both the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties and the 2019 Organic Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says.

Both surveys are underway and the agency is asking those who receive questionnaires to respond quickly and “online if possible.”

“Horticulture and organic agriculture are important segments of U.S. agriculture and our economy,” USDA National Agricultural Statistics Administrator Hubert Hamer said in the release. “When producers respond to these surveys they are helping associations, businesses, and policymakers advocate for their industry, influence program decisions, and educate others about the importance of these parts of agriculture.”

The agency said the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties is conducted once every five years to provide a comprehensive picture of U.S. horticulture. This year, the survey was mailed to 40,000 growers who reported horticultural activity in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. With unique survey codes, growers can either send in the completed survey by mail or respond through an online portal, according to the release.

The deadline for both mailed and online responses is Feb. 5. Results, including production and sales data for U.S. floriculture, nursery, specialty crop industries, and greenhouse food crops, will be available in December 2020, according to the agency. For more information, visit www.nass.usda.gov/go/hort .

The last Census of Horticulture, taken in 2014, revealed 23,221 operations with $13.8 billion in sales.

Organic numbers

Meanwhile, the USDA said the 2019 Organic Survey asks more than 22,000 U.S. producers involved in certified or transitioning organic farming for information about their 2019 production, marketing practices, income, and expenses. The agency said it mailed the survey to about 22,000 U.S. growers who self-reported organic farming in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The deadline for the mailed or online responses is Jan. 10, and the results will be revealed in October 2020, according the agency.

For more information, visit www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Organic_Production .
In the last Organic Survey related to the Census of Agriculture, 14,093 certified or exempt farms reported $5.5 billion in sales in 2014.

The agency said producers who receive the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties or the Organic Survey are required to respond by federal law, as the surveys are part of the Census of Agriculture program. Federal law also requires that the agency keep all individual information confidential.

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JV Farms Organics’ Israel Morales named grower of the year

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:08:29 GMT

The Organic Trade Association is honoring Israel Morales Sr. of JV Farms Organics as its Organic Farmer of the Year.

Morales, who has more than 40 years of farming experience, is the lead grower at JV Organics, Soledad, Calif., one of the JV Smith Cos.

As the company’s ranch manager, Morales has a direct influence on how the company’s organic crops are grown, and his experience tells him what vegetables are suitable for specific soil types, and other important factors, according to a news release from The Organic Trade Association.

“Described by peers as living and breathing organic farming, he has both an old-school mentality on how to grow organically, while also a flair for innovation,” according to the release.

As a large-scale commercial grower of organics, the company benefits from Morales’ land stewardship, from minimizing disturbance to the land and maximizing soil cover and biodiversity, his primary focus is soil health, according to the news release.

“He has developed an innovative farming system using conservation tilllage beds that allows him to use cover crops on 80 to 90% of his acreage during the winter fallow,” according to the release.

Morales is one of three organic leaders being honored by the association at a Sept. 11 celebration dinner in Baltimore, Md., during Natural Products Expo East.

Lynn Coody of Organic Agsystems Consulting will receive the Growing the Organic Community Award, and Nate Powell-Palm of Cold Spring Organics (beef and grains) will receive the Rising Star Award.

The Organic Trade Association chooses recipients who advocate for strong organic standards, are passionate about organic farming and actively pass on their knowledge to foster growth in the sector, according to the release.

“Each year we look forward to recognizing those within the organic sector who have led with valuable contributions to help grow and expand organic agriculture and the products it markets,” Laura Batcha, CEO and executive director of the association, said in the release. “It is exciting to recognize outstanding farmers, where it all starts, and others along the organic value chain who play an instrumental role to further organic.”

Demand keeps climbing for organic avocados

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:17:53 GMT

Just as demand for conventional avocados continues to climb, so does demand for their organic counterparts.

Most major avocado grower-shippers say they have strong organic programs to help meet that demand.

“We’re very big in organic,” said Gary Caloroso, regional business development director for The Giumarra Cos . in Los Angeles.

“That’s a big program for us,” Caloroso said.

The company is one of largest organic avocado suppliers to large mainstream supermarket chains as well as smaller ones, he said.

Del Rey Avocado Co. Inc., Fallbrook, Calif., is another leading marketer of organic avocados, said Bob Lucy, partner.

“We seem to be getting bigger and hopefully better every year,” he said.

“Organic avocados continues to be a rapidly growing segment,” said Rankin McDaniel, owner and president of Fallbrook-based McDaniel Fruit Co. Inc .

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“At this point, for the industry, it is an undersupplied segment,” he said.

That undersupply prevents the company from seeking new organic customers, McDaniel said.

The firm has adequate production to meet current needs, he said, but until new organic acreage comes on line, it will be difficult to expand its distribution network.

A maximum of 10% of the company’s volume now is organic, but McDaniel said that will increase because the company is putting in its own organic acreage.

The company is in discussions with growers about converting some of their conventional acreage to organic, but that’s a three-year process.

Organic avocados are a big part of the business at Eco Farms , Temecula, Calif., said Gahl Crane, sales director.

Acreage has been steady, he said, but the company might see added volume from existing growers and from newer growers looking for partnerships.

Good news for California growers is that Mexico’s organic volume has been limited lately, which has opened a window for organic fruit from California, Crane said.

Related content: Specialty, organic potatoes help expand sales

He expects that situation to continue in the coming months.

Tighter supplies out of Mexico could provide an opportunity for California growers to supply organic avocados to markets beyond the West Coast, he said.

The organic program at Index Fresh Inc ., Riverside, Calif., is growing at about the same pace as its conventional program, said Dana Thomas, president and CEO.

“It’s a good product, it gives a good return to the grower, and it provides another display for the retailer, and that is important for the category,” Thomas said.

Calavo Growers Inc. , Santa Paula, Calif., has some “really good groves” of organic avocados in California, said Rob Wedin, vice president of sales and marketing.

When there is a big conventional crop in a season, it’s normal to have big organic crop, he said.

But the company may not see a 75% boost in organic avocados this year like it will for conventional due in part to significant fire damage to one of its major organic groves in a previous season.

Henry Avocado Corp. , Escondido, Calif., has a “fairly good presence in organic,” said president Phil Henry.

The company has sold organic avocados for about 10 years, he said, and sales are “pretty strong” and demand continues to be very good.

Good news at Henry Avocado is that organic yields are getting close to those of conventional yields, Henry said.

Growing organically is not cheap, since the process calls for special inputs and different growing methods than conventional fruit.

“It definitely takes a different approach,” Thomas said, since special fertilizers must be used and different growing practices must employed, such as manual weed control.

Related content: Organics, fair trade bananas seeing more demand

Costs for those inputs are higher, especially for fertilizer, Henry said.

Fertilizers and insecticides, if insecticides are used at all, must be certified for organics.

“We hope there continues to be a premium because of the extra costs for the organic grower,” Caloroso said.

Organic avocados can help retailers make higher margins because of the premium prices, Crane added.

“You see that reflected in f.o.b. pricing and in retail data,” he said.

Retailers who get creative with size, packing and pricing can “make a nice margin on sales,” Crane said.

High prices for organic avocados don’t seem to be a significant deterrent to organic purchases, McDaniel said.

“People who want organic will pay for organic,” he said.

“We’ve seen big price differences at retail level between what a conventional avocado would cost the consumer versus an organic avocado in the same store, and organic demand continues,” he said.

Thomas of Index Fresh also believes that consumers may be impervious to price when it comes to organics.

“Organic is a choice that, when people make it, they make it across produce categories,” he said.

“People who are looking for organic have a comfort level with organic, whether that be a strawberry or an avocado, it’s that comfort level they’re looking for.”

Even at a 30% premium — when organic avocados sell for $1.99 at retail compared with $1.99 for conventional — sales remain strong, Wedin said.

“People can’t get enough.”

The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Exposition & Conference (GOPEX) provides a forum to meet the rapidly changing needs of professionals who grow, distribute, pack and market organic produce. This international trade show and conference provides the ideal opportunity for organic produce professionals from around the world to network, exchange ideas, source new products and services, and do business with the industry’s leading growers, distributors, packers, marketers and retailers.

Demand grows for organic Vidalia onions

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:55 GMT

The demand for organic has infiltrated the sweet Vidalia onion world — a demand that’s rising incrementally year after year, growers and marketers say.

“We have trouble keeping up with customer demand. It’s the fastest part of our business,” said Lauren Dees, sales and marketing manager of Generation Farms , Vidalia, Ga.

At Generation Farms, there are 150 acres of certified sweet onions, and its organic category is rising about 5% each year, Dees said.

Potandon Produce , Idaho Falls, Idaho, is expanding its organic offerings too, say Dick Thomas, senior vice president of sales, and Joey Dutton, key accounts and onion sales.

“As demand grows for organic, growers are trying to keep up with that demand,” Dutton said.

“We’re just gradually increasing our markets as we expand our business and add growers in the Vidalia region, and increase tonnage.”

Expect organic Vidalias sooner rather than later.

Early varieties have better disease resistance and more daylength sensitivity in which the tops go down early and uniformly, according to the University of Georgia extension services.

“Such onions continue to imbibe water and increase in size, which increases the mildness of the onions,” according to the university extension recommendations.

The packaging can also tow the line of the organic, sustainable ways.

In September, Shuman Farms , Reidsville, Ga., reduced the plastic by 38% with different netting and thinner film in its new consumer bags of organic RealSweet onions.

“The revamp of our organic packaging is just the beginning of an overall initiative to increase sustainability across all of or RealSweet brand products,” said company president and CEO John Shuman.

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UPDATED: Led by fresh produce, organic sales continue growth

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:45:43 GMT

(UPDATED May 24) Fresh fruits and vegetables continue to hold the top spot of organic food sales, according to the Organic Trade Association’s 20th annual survey on the sector.

Of the total organic fruit and vegetable sales in 2017 — $16.5 billion — 90% came from fresh produce sales, according to the association’s 2018 Organic Industry Survey.

The overall organic food market in 2017 saw a record $45.2 billion in sales. Organic Trade Association CEO and Executive Director Laura Batcha said “Organic has arrived. And everyone is paying attention,” in a news release.

As consumer interest in healthful products increases, fresh produce is reaping the benefits.

“Produce is a key entry point into organic, especially for young families and millennials,” according to the survey’s executive summary. “Innovation in produce has included increased availability of diverse offerings, cross merchandising to inspire shoppers’ creativity, and novel product size — from minis perfect for snacks and lunch boxes to jumbo-pack organic berries.”

As consumers translate “fresh” to mean “healthy,” non-perishables have upped their game, “fresh-ifying” in an effort to compete with produce and other perimeter departments at stores, according to the survey’s executive summary.

At the same time, perishables have a higher bar to leap in online sales, according to the survey’s summary, forcing perishables marketers to refine packaging in order to stand out.

New trends for the sector show that companies are taking cues from conventional fruits and vegetables. At The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo in January, companies displayed:

Snack-sized greenhouse vegetables, including cocktail cucumbers and small specialty tomatoes;
Pouch bags containing various fruits, from club apples to grapes;
Convenience items such as wrapped microwaveable potatoes; and
Specialty items like rainbow baby peeled carrots and shredded rainbow carrots; and
Larger packs such as 2-pound clamshells of organic strawberries.

Even as the association reports a maturing of the overall organic market, with a slower growth than in previous years, at 6.4% the overall growth rate of all organic food sales still is six times that of conventional food sales (1.1%).

Although the 6.4% growth rate is the lowest since 2009, when it was 4.3%, 5.5% of all consumer food dollars went to organic food, an increase over 2016’s 5.2% and the highest in at least the past 10 years.

Sales of fruits and vegetables, in all forms, rose 5.3% from 2016, according to the OTA.

“The organic food market will see a steadier pace of growth as it matures, but it will continue to surpass the growth rate of the broader food market,” Batcha said in the release. “Demand for organic is flourishing as consumers seek out nutritious and clean food that is good for their health and for the environment.

“That demand is driving innovation, and there are now so many organic options that we can all eat organic for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and everything in between,” she said in the release.

20 years later …

When the OTA’s Organic Industry Survey debuted in 1997, organic food sales were $3.4 billion. Since then, sales have exploded to almost 15 times that. In the past 10 years, the organic market has more than doubled.

In 2002, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s organic seal was introduced, organic sales (including non-food items) were $8.6 billion, compared to $1 billion in 1990, when the Organic Foods Production Act authorized the USDA’s National Organic Program.

Organic setback?

The survey, released May 18, came a week after the USDA announced it was not pursuing a federal research and promotion order for organic products. The generic marketing order would have promoted organic similar to a brand and would have funded research projects chosen by a board that would have included members representing different segments of the organic industry.

The USDA cited a number of reasons cited from public comments on the proposal, including the method of assessing imports, the methodology to be used in the voting process, and the significant number of growers and handlers who would be exempt because they’d fall under the $250,000 gross sales threshold.

The OTA, which submitted comments with more than 1,200 certified organic operators named, said in a news release that it was “unfathomable that organic stakeholders will not be given the chance to cast their vote” on the program, which had been dubbed Gro Organic by the association.

“There is no question we need promotion for organic as consumers continue to demand food transparency,” Batcha said in the news release.

How one small farm expanded melon sales to major retailers

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:39:01 GMT

In California’s San Joaquin Valley, third-generation melon farmer Joe Del Bosque has established a reputation for growing high-quality melons — melons that are now finding their way into retailers such as Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s, in addition to the farmer’s popular farm stand.

Through sustainable and organic growing practices, Del Bosque Farms delivers common and specialty melon varieties to a growing consumer base.

The farm originated in 1985, initially growing cantaloupes and later adding crops such as tomatoes, asparagus, almonds and cherries, Del Bosque says. He transitioned to organic farming around 2005 and now sells exclusively organic melons.

Del Bosque grew up with his father, a migrant worker, working in melons, and later had a job managing a farm.

“I grew up in that atmosphere,” he said. “So in 1985, it felt natural to start my own farm.

“Melons are my heritage,” he said.

While he originally started growing cantaloupes for other people as a contract grower, from there he branched to growing his own melons — and still does today. Along the way, Del Bosque said he changed harvests through trial and error.

“We added cotton for a while, which we don’t do anymore,” he said. “We added tomatoes for processing, and grew asparagus for a while, but that went to the wayside because of competition from Mexico. We later added almonds and a few cherries.”

farm stand

(Photo courtesy of Del Bosque Farms)

Organic melons into retail

As commercial growers, the farm began switching to organic growing practices around 2005, Del Bosque says, adding that the farm has been entirely organic for the past three to four years. In 2019, the operation opened a farm stand where it sells not only the farm’s organic produce, but also local items from other farms, such as pomegranates, onions and garlic.

The grower ships commercially across the U.S., with Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s among its biggest customers, Del Bosque says. The relationship with Whole Foods Market was unanticipated.

“I was growing conventional melons when a neighbor called saying he had purchased land that he couldn’t use for a year,” Del Bosque said. “It was certified organic, he said, and asked if I’d like to farm it. I had never considered organic before, so I took the opportunity.

“I planted organic melons for the first time on land that was already certified. I just had to get myself certified and learn to grow organically,” he said. “Within weeks, I got a call from a field rep for Whole Foods who said he wanted to come out and see the farm. They looked at it and fell in love with our melons. They’ve been a great customer ever since.”

Commercially, the farm grows cantaloupes, honeydews and a specialty melon called galia, which Del Bosque says the farm started growing by accident.

“We were planting melons, and somehow some galia plants got in there,” he said. “We had about an acre of them. And what do we do with them? At that time, we didn’t have a farm stand, so I talked to our sales guy, and he says, ‘well, pack them up and we’ll sell them.’ And they did, and the market was receptive, so we decided to add it in the program.”

At the farm stand, consumers find about 10 different kinds of melons and six to eight different kinds of watermelons, Del Bosque says.

“We have a lot of fun there. We grow stuff that you don’t see in the stores anymore, and so my wife handles that, and we have a nephew who works there. He’s excellent at that,” he said. “I have a lot of work with the commercial farm, but when I get through in the morning, I’ll go spend an hour or two at the farm stand in the afternoon and mingle with the customers. It’s great feedback for me and also gives me an opportunity to educate the public a little bit about what we do.”

Through sustainable and organic growing practices, Del Bosque Farms delivers common and specialty melon varieties to a growing consumer base.

(Photo courtesy of Del Bosque Farms)

Del Bosque has found a lot of interest in old varieties of cantaloupes as well as some specialty cantaloupes.

“Melons like piel de sapo and crenshaw do well at the farm stand,” he said. “Customers will drive from the Bay Area, two hours away, to buy our melons. Others will drive from Los Angeles to visit the farm stand and buy our melons.”

His favorite melon?

“Oh, my personal favorite is still cantaloupe. A good cantaloupe is my favorite melon,” he said. “I can eat one every day and never get tired of them.”

Del Bosque says it’s the locale that makes his melons so flavorful.

“Our area is the best growing area for cantaloupes in the world. Here in the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, we have excellent soil, we have excellent climate for our cantaloupes,” he said. “And we can produce cantaloupes that are very good, and they can ship all over the country, and they hold up very well versus some areas that can grow cantaloupes, but their cantaloupes don’t ship as well as our cantaloupes here — and that’s because we have this dry climate. Cantaloupes like this dry climate.”

To provide a sweet melon, Del Bosque says he picks them a little riper for the consumer.

“We try to pick them a little riper so that they’ll have a little more flavor and color and that the consumer will like them enough to buy them again,” he said. “We just try to do the best we can in doing a good job of putting up a quality melon.

Del Bosque says the farm also has been fortunate to have a reliable workforce.

“We have crews that have been with us, some of them have been with us for more than 20 years because they have the skills,” he said. “They know how to do the job, and we don’t have to start off every year training new people, because that would be very difficult. Even though these people only work for us for three or three-and-a-half months, we want them to come back next year, and they do — and that is very, very important for us.”

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