Spinach

Solata Foods recalls baby spinach due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 21:04:55 GMT

The USDA says Solata Foods has recalled its fresh spinach due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The fresh spinach was distributed locally in retail stores and have lot Nos. 40606 and 11006 on the package with an expiration date of June 20 and June 24 stamped on the side.

The FDA says no illnesses have been reported to date and the recall of the spinach comes after a sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Market Food Inspectors. A food laboratory analysis showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a 9-ounce package of Bogopa “Fresh Spinach,” the agency said. Production of the product has been suspended, according to the FDA.

For more information on the recall and the products impacted, visit the FDA’s recall page .

Plenty adds Whole Foods Market and Gelson’s Markets to roster of California stores

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 19:00:19 GMT

Indoor, vertical greens grower Plenty Unlimited has expanded its California footprint to include all Gelson’s Markets and Whole Foods Market stores located in the Golden State. According to a news release, this expansion will double the grower’s retail presence.

“We’ve been big supporters of Plenty since we first started carrying their greens in our Bay Area stores back in 2020. We’re thrilled to be making Plenty’s produce available to all of our California shoppers,” Eric Cusimano, produce category manager for Whole Foods Market, said in the release.

Plenty’s indoor farm facility in Compton, Calif., opened in May this year. The indoor farm is now ramping up production to grow an estimated 4.5 million pounds of leafy greens annually to supply increased demand, according to the release.

“Opening Plenty’s first commercial-scale farm in Compton makes it possible for us to provide California retailers with a reliable supply of fresh leafy greens year-round,” Dana Worth, Plenty’s senior vice president of commercial, said in the release. “From expanding our presence in Whole Foods Market to bringing new, leading California retailers like Gelson’s on board, we’re giving more consumers access to regional produce that is grown clean.”

The grower says it cultivates its leafy greens in a high-tech controlled environment agriculture facility without the use of pesticides or bleach. In addition to its Compton farm, Plenty operates a vertical farming research center in Laramie, Wyo., and is building an indoor strawberry vertical farm in partnership with Driscoll’s near Richmond, Va., with an opening date slated for 2024.

Related news: Driscoll’s heads to Virginia to grow strawberries in world’s largest indoor vertical farm

Whole Foods Market and Gelson’s Markets will sell four varieties of leafy greens grown at Plenty’s Compton farm, which include baby arugula, crispy lettuce, baby kale and curly baby spinach leafy, according to the release.

“Over the past 70 years, Gelson’s has earned a reputation as one of the premier supermarket chains in the country, in part because of our dedication to offering superior produce,” Paul Kneeland, Gelson’s Markets senior vice president, said in the release. “Plenty makes it possible for us to provide our Southern California shoppers with delicious, locally grown greens all year long, thanks to their advanced technology that brings out its best natural flavor.”

Related news: Plenty unveils its first commercial farm in Compton

The Compton farm’s increased production is not only powering the expansion of Plenty’s California retail footprint to Gelson’s Markets and Whole Foods Market stores, but also includes all California-based Bristol Farms locations, totaling more than 180 retail stores across the Golden State, according to the release.

Additionally, Plenty’s leafy greens are also available online through e-commerce channels such as Good Eggs, Imperfect Foods, Instacart, Misfits Market and Whole Foods Market, the release said.

Spinach recalled by Fresh Express for possible listeria contamination

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 19:49:28 GMT

Fresh Express has voluntarily recalled its Fresh Express Spinach due to a potential risk from Listeria monocytogenes, according to a news release.

The company said the recalled products include its Fresh Express Spinach 8-ounce size, with product code G332 and a use-by date of Dec. 15, and Publix Spinach, 9-ounce size, with product code G332 and a use-by date of Dec. 14.

The company said it distributed the recalled items to retailers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Fresh Express said it initiated the recall after routine sampling conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a randomly selected package of spinach. Fresh Express immediately notified affected retailers and instructed them to remove the recalled items from store shelves and all inventories, according to the release.

The company said no one reported illnesses.

Survey: Nearly 1 in 5 consumers report purchasing organic spinach exclusively

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:00:19 GMT

Editor’s note: The following report is from The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 , which provides insight based on survey responses from consumers. Since 1983, The Packer has sponsored major consumer studies to track trends in the purchases and consumption of fresh produce, documenting the fluctuation in purchases of specific fruits and vegetables as well as changing attitudes toward industry issues.

Organic spinach is an essential ingredient in a successful modern produce department.

Numbers from the retail data firm Circana show that organic spinach sales in 2022 totaled a whopping $522.6 million, down less than 1% from 2021.

Total volume of organic spinach sold in 2022 topped 71 million pounds, about 7% less than 2021.

The average price for organic spinach in 2022 was $7.34, up 7.1% from 2021.

Circana data reveals that organic spinach sales accounted for 50% of total spinach retail sales and 7% of total organic produce sales.

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 survey shows that 17% of consumers said they shopped exclusively for organic spinach, and 42% said they purchased organic spinach at least sometimes.

More info from Organic Fresh Trends 2024

Organic retail sales – Spinach 2022

Pounds sold: 71.2 million
Average retail price per pound: $7.34
Retail sales: $522.6 million
Percent of total organic produce sales: 7%
Organic percent of retail spinach sales: 50%
Change in sales from last year: -0.7%

Source: Circana

Organic purchasing patterns of spinach

Organic only: 17%
Organic at least some of the time: 42%*

*Includes consumers who purchase only organic and those who purchase a combination of both organic and conventional product.

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by household income*

$100K+: 21%
$50k<$100k: 12%
$25k<$50k: 19%
Less than $25k: 10%

*Figures based on annual household income

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by presence of children at home

1 kids: 19%
2 kids: 21%
3+ kids: 16%
No kids: 15%

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by region

Midwest: 17%
Northeast: 13%
South:21%
West: 16%

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by age*

18-29 years: 33%
30-39 years: 17%
40-49 years: 18%
50-59 years: 14%
60+ years: 4%

*Considering primary household buyers

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by ethnicity

Asian: 14%
Black/African America: 24%
Hispanic: 31%
Other: 18%
White/Caucasian:13%

Top crops retain standings in Monterey County production

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:31 GMT

Monterey County’s top four most valuable crops remained unchanged from 2018 to 2019, led by leaf lettuce, which saw an increase of almost 15%, boosted by better pricing for romaine.

Overall, the county’s ag production value increased 3.5% in 2019, to almost $4.41 billion, according to the Monterey County 2019 Crop Report , issued by the county’s agricultural commission.

Of the top 10 crops, ranked by production value, seven categories are vegetables, with the exception being strawberries, in the No. 2 slot again, and wine grapes and nursery products. All 10 crops are the same crops from the 2018 list.

Strawberries saw an increase of about 5%, with a bump of more than $34 million, to $732.76 million, mostly due to improved fresh strawberry prices, according to the report.

Head lettuce, Monterey County’s third-most valuable crop, increased almost 12% to $514.09 million. Increased production and higher average prices for carton-packed lettuce are the main reasons for the increase, according to the report.

Overall, vegetable crops saw an increased production value in 2019 of about $228 million, at just under $3.1 billion. The fruits and nuts category dropped about $15.7 million in value to $1.03 billion, according to the report, but that includes a 25% drop in wine grape crop value. Dropping wine grapes from the category gives fruit and nuts a $46 million (5.7%) boost from 2018 to 2019.

Monterey County’s top crop values, followed by 2019 and 2018 rankings, are:

Leaf lettuce : $840.56 million, 1/1;
Strawberries : $732.76 million, 2/2;
Head Lettuce : $514.09 million, 3/3;
Broccoli : $457.39 million, 4/4;
Cauliflower $212.38 million, 5/6;
Misc. vegetables: $196.84 million, 6/7;
Celery $186.39 million, 7/9
Wine Grapes: $186.1 million; 8/5
Nursery: $143.98 million, 9/8; and
Spinach : $127.12 million, 10/10.

Spinach recalled in Canada

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:24:27 GMT

Quebec-based Vegpro International is recalling Fresh Attitude brand Baby Spinach from the marketplace due to possible salmonella contamination, according to a recall notice posted Nov. 26 at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.

According to the notice, the recall was triggered by the company. As of Nov. 28, the CFIA reported no illnesses associated with the consumption of the recalled products.

A Nov. 28 update to the recall notice said the recalled product may be distributed in New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and other Atlantic provinces.

Vegpro International also published a recall notice Nov. 28 at the FDA website, where the company said it is the Fresh Attitude Baby Spinach packages in question were produced in Vegpro’s Eastern Canadian plant and have been distributed only in eastern Canada and in the northeastern U.S., specifically New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania. All other Fresh Attitude product sold in the U.S., according to the notice, is produced in Belle-Glade Florida and is not linked to this recall.

No illnesses have been reported so far, the company said in the FDA notice.

Dole Fresh Vegetables announces limited recall of baby spinach

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:09:40 GMT

Westlake Village, Calif.-based Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. is voluntarily recalling a limited number of cases of baby spinach .

The company announced the precautionary recall on Aug. 9 on the Food and Drug Administration website.

According to a news release, the products being recalled are six-ounce Dole Baby Spinach bag, Lot code W20308A (UPC code 0-71430-00964-2), and 10-ounce Dole Baby Spinach clamshell, Lot code W203010 (UPC code 0-71430-00016-8es), both with use-by dates of 08-05-2019, due to a possible health risk from Salmonella.

Dole Fresh Vegetables is coordinating closely with regulatory officials, according to the release, and no illnesses have been reported in association with the recall.

The release said the recalled products were distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The product is expired and should no longer be on retail shelves, according to the release.

The precautionary recall is issued because a sample of baby spinach yielded a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the Department of Agriculture in Michigan, according to the release.

No other Dole products are included in the recall, according to the release.

Retailers and consumers with questions may call the 24-hour Dole Consumer Center at 1-800-356-3111, according to the release.

Urban Remedy recalls salads, wraps

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:13:58 GMT

Urban Remedy , a California-based producer and retailer of ultra-fresh, organic meals, is voluntarily recalling 76 salads and wraps that contain spinach that may be contaminated with E. coli.

No juices or any other products are being recalled, according to a news release.

“In an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily recalling a limited number of our products that contain potentially contaminated spinach,” Paul Coletta, the company’s CEO, said in the release. “We’re taking preventative action to keep our customers safe, although no illness has been reported to date.”

The release said spinach from a supplier tested positive for a small amount of E. coli) bacteria. Coletta said in the release that Urban Remedy will no longer buy spinach from the supplier.

The products were sold in Urban Remedy’s retail stores, at Whole Foods Markets, online, and at other California retailers, according to the release. All remaining affected products have been removed from store shelves and the Urban Remedy website. No illnesses have been reported, according to the release.

2020 Organic Fresh Trends data on spinach

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:27:32 GMT

Spinach was the second most popular item that consumers bought as organic at least some of the time, of those studied in Organic Fresh Trends 2020. (Kale was No. 1.) Purchasing patterns remained steady with last year, with more than one-third of spinach buyers (35%) saying they bought organic product at least some of the time.

Organic spinach sales enjoyed steady growth from 2017-2018, with marketers selling nearly $50 million more in organic spinach in 2018, even with the average retail price per pound slipping three cents during that time period, according to data from IRI/FreshLook Marketing. The percentage of consumers buying organic spinach continues to climb, as organic product comprised 42% of spinach sales in 2018.

The likelihood of a periodic organic spinach purchase decreased according to age, as was the case last year. More than half of the youngest spinach shoppers (54%) said they bought organic product at least some of the time, according to Organic Fresh Trends 2020.

Shoppers in the “all other” ethnic group, along with Asian consumers and those age 18-39, were among the most likely to always buy organic spinach. Caucasian consumers were among the least likely overall to buy, as was the case last year.

Marketscope — Fruit f.o.b.s as of May 4

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

Apples

YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2019 CROP — Shipments (1,053-1,133-1,147, Includes exports 265-256-279) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Gala active, others moderate. Prices Generally Unchanged. Washington Extra Fancy Carton tray pack Red Delicious 72-88s mostly 14.00-16.00, 100-113s mostly 13.00-15.00; Golden Delicious fine appearance 72s mostly 25.00- 28.00, 80s mostly 24.00-26.00, 88s mostly 22.00-26.00, 100s mostly 18.00-22.00; Fuji 64-88s mostly 18.00-20.00, 100s mostly 16.00- 18.00, 113s mostly 14.00-17.00; Granny Smith 64s mostly 18.00-20.00, 72-80s mostly 18.00-22.00, 88s 18.00-20.00, 100s mostly 17.00- 19.00, 113-125s mostly 16.00-18.00; Gala 64-72s mostly 22.00-24.00, 80s 20.00-24.00, 88s mostly 18.00-20.00, 100s mostly 15.00-17.00, 113s 13.00-16.00, 125s mostly 13.00-15.00; Honeycrisp 56s mostly 28.00-34.90, 64s mostly 32.00-38.90, 72-80s 34.00-40.90, 88s mostly 32.00-38.90, 100s mostly 30.00-36.90. Cartons 12 3-pound film bags Red Delicious Washington Extra Fancy 2 1/2" minimum mostly 15.95-17.95; Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Gala 2 1/2" minimum mostly 16.95-18.95; Granny Smith 1/2" minimum mostly 18.95-20.95; Honeycrisp 2 1/2" minimum mostly 30.95-34.95. ORGANIC cartons tray pack Gala Washington Extra Fancy 64s mostly 22.00-26.00, 72- 80s mostly 20.00-26.00, 88s mostly 18.00-24.00, 100s mostly 18.00-20.00; cartons 12 3 pound film bags Gala 2 1/2" minimum mostly 16.95-20.95.

NEW YORK 2019 CROP — Shipments (68-72-69) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Moderate. Prices Generally Unchanged. Fuji Cartons Tray Pack U.S. Extra Fancy 80s-88s mostly 26.00-27.00; Gala Cartons Tray Pack U.S. Extra Fancy 80s-88s mostly 26.00-30.00; McIntosh Cartons Tray Pack U.S. Extra Fancy 80s-88s mostly 27.00-28.00; Empire Cartons Tray Pack U.S. Extra Fancy 80s-88s mostly 23.50-26.00; Cortland Cartons Tray Pack U.S. Extra Fancy 80s-88s mostly 24.00-28.00. Cartons 12 3-pound Film Bags Red Delicious U.S. Extra Fancy mostly 16.00-19.00; Fuji U.S. Extra Fancy mostly 20.00-22.00; Gala U.S. Extra Fancy 2 1/2 inch minimum mostly 20.00-23.00; McIntosh U.S. Extra Fancy 2 ½ inch minimum mostly 18.00-22.00; Empire U.S. Extra Fancy 2 1/2 inch minimum mostly 18.00-22.00.

MICHIGAN — Shipments (61-68-51) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Moderate. Prices Generally Unchanged. cartons 12 3- pound film bags U.S. Extra Fancy Gala and McIntosh mostly 18.00-20.00, Red Delicious mostly 17.00-19.00, Jonagold mostly 17.00- 18.00, Fuji and Golden Delicious mostly 19.00-21.00, Tray pack 88s Gala and Fuji 24.00-28.00, Red Delicious mostly 20.00-22.00, Golden Delicious 21.00-24.00. Supplies of Golden Delicious and McIntoshlight and in few hands, Fuji fairly light.

APPALACHIAN DISTRICT 2019 CROP — Shipments (22-19-20) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Fairly Active. Prices Unchanged. Cartons traypack U.S. Extra Fancy Red Delicious 72s-88s $20.00-21.00, 100s $19.00-20.00; Golden Delicious 72s-88s $25.00-26.00; Fuji 80s-88s $27.00-28.00; Gala 80s-88s $27.00-30.00; and McIntosh 80s-88s $26.00-28.00 cartons 12-3 pound filmbags U.S. Extra Fancy 2 1/2" minimum Red Delicious mostly $18.00-19.00, Golden Delicious $20.00-22.00, Fuji $21.00-23.00, Gala $22.00-24.00 and McIntosh $19.00-21.00.

NEW ENGLAND 2019 CROP — Shipments (2-2-3) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Too few open market sales to establish a market.

Apricots

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (U-U-U) — Light and sporadic has harvesting has begun. Rain and cooler then normal temperatures have postponed harvest. First F.O.B. expected week of May 10, 2020. (U = unavailable)

Avocados

MEXICO — CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS 2019 CROP — Crossings (353-543-437) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Lower. Cartons 2 layer Hass 32-36s mostly 38.25-40.25, 40-48s mostly 38.25-40.25, 60s mostly 36.25-38.25, 70s mostly 27.25-29.25, 84s mostly 21.25-22.25. Extra services included.

SOUTH DISTRICT CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (112-140-U) — Movement expected to increase. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices 60-84s lower, others generally unchanged. Carton 2 layer Hass 32-36s mostly 44.25-46.25, 40-48s mostly 42.25-44.25, 60s mostly 39.25-41.25, 70s mostly 29.25-30.25, 84s mostly 22.25-23.25. Carton 2 layer Hass ORGANIC 48s mostly 58.25-60.25, 60s mostly 56.25-58.25, 70s mostly 42.25-45.25. Extra services included. (U = unavailable)

Blueberries

SOUTH GEORGIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (17-38-52) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Fairly Active. Prices Higher. Flats 12 1-pint cups with lids large 20.00-22.00, ORGANIC 12 1-pint cups with lids medium large 25.00-28.00, 6 ounce cups with lids medium-large 14.00-18.50. Quality variable.

MEXICO — CROSSINGS THROUGH ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS — Crossings (56-53*-48) — Movement expected to decrease. Trading early moderate, late slow. Prices Generally Unchanged. Flats 12 6-oz cups with lids mostly 10.00. Quality and condition variable. (* revised)

SOUTH AND CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments (12-18-27) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading Slow. Flats 12 1- pint cups with lids 18.00-28.00 mostly 22.00-24.00 occasional higher flats 12 6-ounce cups with lids 10.00-16.00 mostly 12.00-14.00 occasional higher. ORGANIC flats 12 6-ounce cups with lids 12.00-16.00 mostly 14.00-16.00 few 10.00 occasional higher.

CENTRAL AND NORTH FLORIDA 2020 CROP — Shipments (33-18-14) — Movement expected to decrease sharply as nearly all growers have finished for the season. Expect very light — Shipments for 1-2 more weeks. LAST REPORT

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA — Light harvest expected during the current trade week (May 03-09, 2020). Currently, no F.O.B. is being issued. FIRST REPORT.

Cherries

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (0-0-47) — Movement expected to increase. Harvesting has begun in the Southern portion of the district. First F.o.b expected to begin on or around May 7th.

Grapes

CHILE IMPORTS — PORT OF ENTRY PHILADELPHIA AREA 2020 CROP Imports via Boat — (44-205-38) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading White Seedless Type Moderate, others Slow. Prices Generally Unchanged. 18 lb containers bagged Red Seedless exlge 16.00-18.00, lge 14.00- 16.00, med 12.00-14.00 Black Seedless exlge mostly 16.00, lge 14.00-16.00, med-lge mostly 12.00-14.00 Red Globe jbo mostly 16.00, exlge 14.00-16.00, lge 12.00-14.00 SPECIAL STORAGE White Seedless Type exlge 34.00-36.00, lge mostly 32.00-34.00, med-lge mostly 28.00-30.00.

MEXICO — CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA — Crossings (6-13-31) — Movement from Jalisco expected to increase slightly. Harvest in Hermosillo is expected to begin the week of May 2. The Hermosillo Grape Growers Association estimates the 2020 crop at 19.7 million 18 -pound cartons, down 20 percent from 23.6 million in 2019. Harvest of White, Red and Black varieties expected to begin the week May 3 from Sonora, Mexico. Quality generally good. The first F.O.B report is expected to be issued the week of May 10, when most shippers expect to be fully underway.

CHILE IMPORTS — PORT OF ENTRY LOS ANGELES AREA 2020 CROP Imports via Boat — (13-29-23) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading White Seedless Type Moderate, others Slow. Prices Red Seedless Slightly Lower, others Generally Unchanged. 18 lb containers bagged Red Seedless exlge mostly 16.00, lge 14.00- 16.00, med-lge 12.00-14.00 Black Seedless exlge mostly 16.00, lge 14.00- 16.00, med-lge mostly 12.00-14.00 Red Globe jbo mostly 16.00, exlge 14.00-16.00, lge 12.00-14.00 SPECIAL STORAGE White Seedless Type exlge mostly 34.00-36.00, lge mostly 32.00-34.00, med-lge mostly 30.00-32.00.

COACHELLA VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (0-0-0) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Light harvesting is expected to get underway the week of May 11th. F.O.B. expected to begin on or around May 18th. FIRST REPORT

Lemons

SOUTH AND CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments Moderate — Movement expected about the same. Trading Moderate. Prices Shippers First Grade 75-115s and 165s slightly higher, others generally unchanged. 7/10 bushel cartons Shippers First Grade 75s mostly 24.18-26.20, 95-115s mostly 25.18-28.20, 140s mostly 24.18-27.20, 165s mostly 24.18-26.20, 200s mostly 23.18-26.20, 235s mostly 19.18-22.20; Shippers Choice 75s mostly 16.18-19.20, 95s mostly 17.10-20.20, 115s mostly 18.18-20.20, 140s mostly 19.18-23.20, 165s mostly 21.18-24.20, 200s mostly 20.10-24.20, 235s mostly 18.18-21.20. ORGANIC 7/10 bushel Shippers First Grade 75s mostly 28.18- 32.20, 95-115s mostly 37.18-42.20, 140s mostly 37.18-41.20; Shippers Choice 95-115s mostly 22.18-26.20, 140s mostly 24.18-30.20.

Oranges

FLORIDA — Shipments (85-96-84, Includes exports 2-3-2) — Prices not reported. — Shipments are for weeks ending April 4, April 11 and April 18 in that order.

MEXICO — CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA — Crossings (12-15-17) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Active. Prices Slightly Higher. 7/10 bushel cartons Valencia No Grade Marks 72-88s mostly 13.95-15.95, 113s 13.95-15.95, 138s 13.95-14.95. Quality variable.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments 113-138s Fairly Light, others Moderate — Movement expected about the same. Trading Active. Prices First Grade 40s and 113s generally unchanged, others slightly higher. 7/10 bushel cartons Navel Shippers First Grade 40s mostly 17.18-19.20, 48-56s mostly 19.18-20.20, 72s mostly 17.18-20.20, 88-138s mostly 17.18-19.20; Shippers Choice 40s mostly 13.20-14.20, 48-72s mostly 14.18-15.20, 88s 14.18-16.50, 113s mostly 15.18-16.20, 138s mostly 14.18-16.20. ORGANIC 7/10 bushel cartons Navel Shippers First Grade 48-72s mostly 26.18-32.20, 88s 24.18-28.20, 113s mostly 24.18-28.20; Shippers Choice 56s mostly 18.18-22.20, 72-88s mostly 16.18-22.20.

Peaches

CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (U-U-U) — Light and sporadic has harvesting has begun. Rain and cooler then normal temperatures have postponed harvest. First F.O.B. expected week of May 10, 2020. (U = unavailable)

Strawberries

SANTA MARIA DISTRICT — Shipments (218-286-352) — Movement expected to increase. Trading Conventional active, Organic moderate. Prices Higher. Flats 8 1-pound containers with lids medium-large mostly 8.00-10.00. ORGANIC Flats 1-pound containers with lids medium-large mostly 10.00-12.00. Quality and condition variable. Most present — Shipments from prior bookings and/or previous commitments.

OXNARD DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments (224-240-198) — Movement expected to decrease. Trading Moderate. Prices Unchanged. Flats 8 1-pound containers with lids small-medium mostly 8.00. Quality and condition variable. Most present — Shipments from prior bookings and/or previous commitments. Some berries being diverted to to freezer and/or processor.

SALINAS-WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA — Shipments (37-82-168) — Movement expected to increase. Trading Conventional active, Organic moderate. Prices Higher. Flats 8 1-lb containers with lids large-extra large mostly 9.00-10.00. Quality variable. ORGANIC flats 8 1-pound containers with lids large-extra large mostly 10.00-12.00.

MEXICO — CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA CALIFORNIA — Crossings (43-33-22) — Movement expected to decrease sharply. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market. Quality and condition variable. Some berries being diverted to freezer and/or processor. Light and sporadic — Crossings expected to continue through May 9. LAST REPORT.

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA — Shipments (5-6-6) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Moderate. Prices Generally Unchanged. Flats 8 1-pound containers with lids large 12.00-14.50. Includes palletizing and cooling.

Watermelons

FLORIDA SOUTH DISTRICT — Shipments (381-537-733, Seeded 46-54-56; Seedless 335-483-677) —Movement expected to increase. Trading Red Flesh Seedless 60s Very Active, Others Active. Prices Red Flesh Seedless 36s and 45s Slightly Lower, Others Generally Unchanged. 24 inch bins. Red Flesh Seeded type 35s mostly 105.00; Seedless type 36s 126.00-133.00, 45s mostly 147.00, 60s mostly 147.00. Quality generally good.

MEXICO — CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA — Crossings (318-408*-558) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Active. Prices Miniature 6s and 11s generally unchanged, others slightly higher. Red Flesh Seedless type 24 inch bins approximately 35-45 counts mostly 140.00-147.00, approximately 60 count mostly 133.00; Miniature (supplies light) cartons 6s 10.95-12.95, 8s mostly 13.95, 9s mostly 12.95-13.95, 11s 8.95-9.95. Quality variable. (* revised)

MEXICO — CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS — Crossings (111-100-43) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Generally Unchanged. Red Flesh Seedless type 24 inch bins per pound approximately 35 and 45 counts mostly .17-.18. Quality variable.

LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS — Shipments (5*-13-8) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issued the week of May 10. (* revised)

CENTRAL AND WESTERN ARIZONA — Harvest expected to begin in Western Arizona the week of May 10, followed by Central Arizona the week of May 17. Quality expected to be generally good.

IMPERIAL AND COACHELLA VALLEYS CALIFORNIA — Harvest expected to begin the week of May 3. Quality expected to be generally good.

New Jersey crops even out after warm, cool spells

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:56:04 GMT

With the way the crops in New Jersey are going, you would hardly know there’s a pandemic.

“In June, we’ll be rolling strong,” said Bill Nardelli Jr., vice president of sales and marketing for Nardelli Bros. Inc ., Cedarville, N.J.

“Even with this whole COVID-19 pandemic we’ve been going through, we’ve stayed pretty steady.”

A mild winter gave way to a chilly spring in New Jersey, causing some growers to plant earlier than previous years but harvest at typical times.

“Mother Nature always has a way of evening things out,” Nardelli said.

Early crops show good size and quality, which is expected to continue as the Garden State’s summer and fall seasons unfold, said Joe Atchison, marketing and development director of the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trenton, N.J.

“While it is early in the season, the outlook is positive,” Atchison said.

Related content: Snapshot: NJ produce season through the eyes of Nardelli Bros.

The Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey reported that a few farmers had a bit of a slowdown, but by May 20, they were back on track in the fields, agriculture commissioner Douglas Fisher said on a May 23 video for the Eastern Produce Council , New Providence, N.J.

Sweet corn was about two feet tall in southern Jersey, he said.

“There are tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash all coming along, as well as a large variety of greens, looking very fine and being harvested right now,” Fisher said in the video.

As May unwound and June kicks off, growers were finishing up asparagus and strawberries while still harvesting leafy greens, spinach and herbs. Squash, beans and cucumbers start in June and continue into July, when growers start with volumes of sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches, eggplant and peppers, among other specialty crops, Atchison said.

The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council reported that peaches should start about July 1, “and we’re expecting an excellent, healthy crop,” Fisher said in the video. An especially cold week in May helped the thinning process, so losses were minimal, according to the peach council.

BY THE NUMBERS

Some of New Jersey’s biggest specialty crops are blueberries, peppers, peaches, asparagus, cranberries, squash and spinach, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

In 2019, the state harvested:

9,300 acres of (not wild) blueberries, yielding 5,090 pounds per acre for a total of 47.3 million pounds and $85.3 million value;
3,500 acres of bell peppers, yielding 33,600 pounds per acr to produce 117.6 million pounds, worth $45.9 million;
3,900 acres of peaches year, yielding 10,000 pounds an acre to produce 39 million pounds and a $25.7 million value;
2,000 acres of asparagus, yielding 3,584 pounds per acre, for a production of 7.2 million pounds, valued at $16.3 million;
2,700 acres of cranberries, yielding 196 barrels per acre for a production of 529,000 barrels and $14.5 million value;
3,200 acres of squash, yielding 10,080 pounds per acre for a total of 32.3 million pounds and a $13.7 million value; and
1,900 acres of spinach, yielding 13,440 per acre for a total of 25.5 million pounds and a $6.7 million value.

In June 2019 alone, New Jersey shipped 17.8 million pounds of blueberries, compared to 16.4 million pounds in June 2018, according to USDA’s annual Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Shipments report.

Peaches came next by weight, followed by nectarines and cranberries.

Related content: New Jersey produce news

FAMILY FARMS

After the unseasonably cool spring that delayed harvesting most crops seven to 10 days, the warming trend before Memorial Day should help Consalo Family Farms , Egg Harbor City, N.J., catch up on production.

That will “put all vegetable crops in full swing,” said Chelsea Consalo, vice president of produce. The Consalos also have a farm in Hammonton, a sales company, Freshwave Fruit and Produce, in Vineland, N.J., and farm partnerships nationwide.

Blueberries are at the front edge their season, which should run through July, Atchison said.

Consalo’s initial estimates were to begin harvesting the New Jersey blueberry crop June 3-5. Instead, because of the cooler weather, she expects to begin about June 13.

Meanwhile, Consalo Family Farms began harvesting cooking greens and herbs May 1 and romaine and leaf lettuce May 8.

“Even though the cool weather caused delays in harvest, it has resulted in outstanding quality on all of our items,” Consalo said.

Customers can expect a full line of New Jersey vegetables and blueberries during the spring, summer and fall with great sizing and quality, she said.

Nardelli Bros. also has farm partnerships elsewhere but grows more than 80 commodities during New Jersey’s season, said Nardelli, part of the fifth generation who runs several hundred acres of family farms with his brother, Jimmy Nardelli II, vice president of production and operations, and their father, Bill Nardelli Sr., president.

Founded in 1898, the company also has cooling and packing facilities in Cedarville, a distribution center in Vineland, N.J., and a fleet of trucks to deliver the products to retail stores.

The Nardellis’ New Jersey season starts with asparagus in mid-April, continuing all the way through to summer dry items, such as peppers, cucumbers and squash, and then back to wet items such as lettuces and greens until Thanksgiving.

In June, the company will have a lot of wet greens, Nardelli said: romaine, red leaf, green leaf, Boston, endive, escarole, many cooking greens, parsley and cilantro.

Cabbages — green, red, savoy, napa, bok choy — come in early June. Come mid-June, expect green and yellow squash, then cucumbers. By the end of June and early July, Nardelli Bros. will harvest peppers and three flavors of corn.

June is prime time for variety from the Nardelli farm as spring and summer harvests intermingle.

“We can put as many as 30 items on one truck. That gives our customers a lot of variety with two seasons overlapping a bit,” Nardelli said.

About 90% to 95% of the acreage is conventional crops, but the Nardellis are gradually adding more organic crops to meet rising demand, he said.

INDOOR AGRICULTURE

While southern New Jersey is full of open, green, rural farmland, northern New Jersey — especially the densely populated northeastern region just across the Hudson River from New York City — is another beast entirely.

A growing trend there, as well as at other Northeastern urban areas, is indoor, controlled atmosphere agriculture, particularly vertical farms.

Related content: How indoor, vertical Bowery Farming is faring during COVID-19

Vertical farms, in which rows of crops are stacked one on top of another using LED lights and automated growing systems, are mainly reserved for leafy greens and herbs that don’t require much space and have quick growing cycles.

Bowery Farming’s headquarters is in Manhattan, but its original farm, which is now a research and development farm, is in Kearny, N.J. The company has since created a second farm in Kearny allowing for 30 times more output than the first farm, according to the company.

There are multiple grow rooms with different temperatures and humidity capabilities for different types of crops.

It’s a commercial, hydroponic, automated indoor farm to serve brick-and-mortar retailers within a 150-mile radius in the tri-state area, said Carmela Cugini, executive vice president of sales.

The proprietary technology includes machine learning, which means that all the growing tricks learned at the first farm are already in place at the second, where even more advancements can build upon the foundation of knowledge, Cugini said.

Bowery Farming grows arugula, baby kale, bok choy, butterhead lettuce, kale mix, romaine, spring blend, basil, cilantro and parsley.

Close by in Newark, N.J, there’s AeroFarms, another indoor vertical farm using its own proprietary technology to grow, not hydroponically, but with a patented aeroponic system that uses a mist of nutrients, water and oxygen and no sun or soil. The company began in 2004.

It’s in season year-round at these vertical farms.

Related content: These companies made Thrive’s Top 50 AgTech and AgFood lists

Field Fresh Farms rebrands as it forges into retail

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:37:32 GMT

Field Fresh Farms, Watsonville, Calif., has refreshed its branding and packaging and expanded to retail business.

The company has a new website ( fieldfreshproduce.com ) and developed new conventional and organic retail packaging.
Fernando Ramirez, sales manager, said the company has a history of responding to market needs “quickly and decisively.”

“When it became clear retailers were looking for additional sources of conventional and organic produce, we quickly adapted,” Ramirez said in a news release. “Now we have the capacity to continue to meet the needs of our foodservice customers, while also filling a gap for the growing retail segment.”

Field Fresh Farms has been a foodservice supplier for decades, Ramirez said, through the Field Fresh Farms and Beach Road Organics labels. The company will continue to grow, pack and ship to those customers, even as the retail program continues momentum.

“As our business moves into a new phase, we thought it was the perfect time to refresh our website and our branding,” Jacob Dobler, marketing manager and fourth-generation farmer whose family founded the company in the 1950s, said in the release.

The company’s logo still features a seaside cypress tree, which has been a key element of the company’s visual identity for many years.

“However, it’s been updated to make an even bolder, modern statement,” Dobler said in the release. “We feel the change is a great metaphor for what’s taking place at our company, as we leverage our legacy to build new relationships with respected retailers around North America.”

The company’s conventional retail products (Field Fresh Brand) include:

Romaine hearts, three-count bags;
Iceberg lettuce, film-wrapped heads;
Spinach , 10-ounce bags;
Spring mix , 10-ounce bags;
Baby kale , 16-ounce clamshells.

The Beach Road Organics retail line is:

Mega mix, 5- and 16-ounce clamshells and 10-ounce bags;
Arugula, 5- and 16-ounce clamshells and 10-ounce bags;
Baby kale, 5- and 16-ounce clamshells and 10-ounce bags; and
Baby spinach, 5- and 16-ounce clamshells.

Moxxy Marketing , Salinas, Calif., designed the updated logo, website and retail packaging.

BrightFarms starts construction on NC greenhouse

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:37:32 GMT

BrightFarms has started construction on a 280,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse in Hendersonville, N.C.

The facility has the capacity of producing more than two million pounds of greens for supermarkets in the area, according to a news release from the Irving, N.Y.-based company. BrightFarms chose the location because of its central location to retailers in the southeast.

“We have longstanding relationships with customers that have a strong footprint in North Carolina and the surrounding states,” Abby Prior, senior vice president of sales and marketing, said in the release. “With more consumers seeking out clean, safe and responsibly grown produce, our expansion into the state will allow us to fill a crucial demand for retailers.”

Other BrightFarms production facilities are in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois.

Shipping is expected to start from the Hendersonville greenhouse early next year, with spinach , spring mix , arugula, the company’s Sunny Crunch blend and baby butter lettuce packs.

Related stories:

BrightFarms opens largest facility in Pennsylvania

BrightFarms adding production in North Carolina

BrightFarms adds blockchain tech through IBM Food Trust Network

Canada to require LGMA certification for Arizona leafy greens

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:38:07 GMT

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be requiring that leafy greens from Arizona must be from a grower involved in the state’s Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement to be imported into Canada.

The new rule will be effective in mid-August, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The agency notified the industry through its listserv, according to a CFIA spokeswoman. The agency plans to post it in its website over the summer.

According to the new rule, the “CFIA will limit entry into Canada of leafy green products from Arizona to those handled by shippers that are certified members of the Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.”

Teressa Lopez, Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Committee administrator, confirmed the CFIA notified the LGMA that the new rule will be finalized and announced in August.

The items covered by the CFIA rule are: iceberg lettuce , romaine , green leaf, red leaf, butter lettuce, baby leaf lettuce (for example, immature lettuce or leafy greens), escarole, endive, spinach , cabbage , kale , arugula, chard and radicchio.

“Products not identified above are excluded from the requirement to be sourced from certified members of the Arizona LGMA (for example, bok choy and other Asian greens),” according to the CFIA.

Canada has required that California leafy greens be certified by the California LGMA for years.

Related stories:

Romaine Task force calls for action, further study of outbreak causes

Arizona LGMA revises metrics in wake of E. coli outbreak

Organic vegetable sales skyrocket, marketers say

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:32:51 GMT

Whether you’re looking for organic Brussels sprouts, romaine hearts, tomatoes or just about any other vegetable this summer, supplies should be ample.

“With the growth of organic fruits and vegetables up almost double the rate of the growth of conventional produce in 2019, organics have moved from niche to mainstream,” said Helen Aquino, director of brand marketing and communications for Village Farms International Inc ., Delta, British Columbia.

Organic production at Ocean Mist Farms, Castroville, Calif., will include iceberg lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, artichokes, fennel, baby bok choy, red beets, broccoli, celery and specialty vegetables, said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing.
Ocean Mist has a line of about 20 organic cooking vegetables.

The company grows organically in Castroville, Coachella and Huron, Calif., at various times of the year.

Ocean Mist launched its Ocean Mist Organic brand in the summer of 2015 and has been growing organically since 2000, she said.

Organics account for 5% to 10% of the company’s production.

Related content: Organic news and updates

About half the products that Los Angeles-based 4Earth Farms LLC offers are organically grown, said Mark Munger, vice president of sales and marketing.

The company has a core organic product line of about 25 items, he said, and has access to dozens more.

Brussels sprouts are 4Earth Farms’ No. 1 organic seller followed by green beans, with French beans “an up-and-comer,” Munger said.

Other popular organic items include green and yellow squash, mini sweet peppers, Persian cucumbers and colored bell peppers.

“Because of our location and our relationship with our growers and our ability to have access to markets, we kind of view ourselves as a one-stop organic shop,” Munger said.

The company grows in multiple regions, such as California, Baja California and Guatemala, simultaneously to ensure consistent supplies.

During the spring and summer, most of the firm’s products come from California and Baja California, where growing conditions have been good, but where there’s been a lot of late-season rain.

“While it’s happening, (rain) is definitely a bit of a nuisance, but we always view rain as money in the bank,” Munger said. “We’re going to continue to take it while we can get it.”

With above-average rainfall last year and normal levels this year, “It puts us in a solid position for the season,” he said.

The future looks bright for organics, he said.

Related content: Organic grapes continue to trend upward for many growers

“We’re seeing availability of organic produce improve during all 12 months of the year.”

On the organic mushroom scene, Leamington, Ontario-based Highline Mushrooms expects to continue to ship its full variety of mushrooms through the summer, said Jane Rhyno, director of sales and marketing.

“Quality looks great across our farms and, as always, we pick, pack and ship fresh every day to provide the consumer the best quality on shelf,” she said.

Volume at Highline has been very strong and should continue throughout the spring and summer, she added.

Mushrooms are in line with many of the current food trends, Rhyno said, including plant-based eating, health and at-home cooking.

“It’s a great category that retailers can look to promote in the upcoming months,” she said.

The organic greenhouse-grown program at Village Farms International “is thriving and is in full swing,” Aquino said in mid-April.

“The crops look great,” she said.

All of Village Farms’ greenhouses that grow organically have been certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and verified by a third party, she said.

Tomatoes rank in the top 10 for both dollars and volumes in the organic category, she said.

“Right now we are harvesting Juicy beefsteak tomatoes, Delectable TOV tomatoes, Sinfully Sweet Campari tomatoes, and Lip Smackn’ Grape tomatoes,” she said.

“We have a number of pack sizes available to meet our customer needs and those of the organic consumer,” added Bret Wiley, senior vice president of sales and sales operations.

Leafy greens growers expected to reduce acreage

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:42:00 GMT

California leafy greens growers are expected to plant reduced acreage in the next few months because of declines in foodservice demand related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What we are hearing from some (leafy green) industry participants is that they’re likely going to cut back 10% to 15% of their acreage that they’re planting, say over the next 60 days,” Roland Fumasi, senior analyst for fruit, vegetables and floriculture with RaboResearch, said April 28.

Because of reduced demand over the past six weeks, growers for foodservice have walked away from fields. Many are trying to redirect volume to retailers.

“Our foodservice clients in the leafy green space, are telling us that they were having to walk away from 50% to 85% of their acreage that was bound for foodservice,” Fumasi said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the shipping point price for romaine lettuce on April 29 was $6.65 per carton, down about $2 per carton compared with a year ago.

David Magana, senior analyst for horticulture for RaboResearch, said vegetables generally rely more on foodservice than fruits.

“The numbers that we use as a rule of thumb is that about 35% of vegetables are marketed through the foodservice channels, with probably tomatoes and lettuce with a higher proportion going to foodservice,” Magana said.

About 15% of fresh fruit is marketed through foodservice channels, he said.

Retail performance

Stronger sales at retail have helped compensate for lagging foodservice demand.

Fumasi said retail data for the four weeks ending April 12 showed fresh produce sales were up 17% compared with the same period last year.

Fresh fruit sales were up about 9% for the four-week period, while fresh vegetable sales were up 25%.

“The reason that you see the bigger jump in vegetables is because they generally rely more heavily on foodservice anyway, so you see a bigger switch there,” he said.

Fumasi said orange sales for the period were up 55%, but sales of grapes, melons and pears were down.

The 25% overall increase in vegetables was highlighted by gains in potatoes and sweet potatoes, Fumasi said, at 80% and 55% increases, respectively.

Packaged salad sales for the four-week period ending April 12 were up just 7%.

“When you consider packaged salads’ reliance on foodservice, when we net it all together (including lost sales to foodservice) packaged salad sales overall are down over 20% to the downside,” he said.

Rebounding foodservice

Fumasi said that foodservice sales are likely to increase when states end lockdowns.

“Consumers want to go out, they want to get back to life as normal and so I think that bodes well for foodservice,” he said. “The big risk out there on the consumer side is that hopefully we don’t have resurgence (of COVID-19) outbreaks where and the government is going to have to continue to take some more drastic measures and tell us to get back indoors.”

Fumasi said Rabobank estimates there could be about 15% revenue loss for the $30 billion California specialty crop sector because of the COVID-19 crisis. Even 10% damage would mean losses of $3 billion for California alone, which is more than the

$2.1 billion in federal direct payments allocated to the entire fruit an vegetable sector.

Related content:
Romaine news and updates
Organic vegetable sales skyrocket, marketers say
California LGMA CEO Scott Horsfall plans 2021 retirement
COVID-19 updates

Fifth Season plans vertical farm near Pittsburgh

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:40:46 GMT

Indoor farming company Fifth Season plans to open a 60,000-square-foot vertical farm in Braddock, Pa., a former steel town near Pittsburgh.

The opening is set for early 2020 for the facility, which will grow lettuces , spinach , kale , arugula and herbs, according to a news release from Fifth Season, formerly known as RoBotany Ltd.

The company developed its greenhouse technology with two research and development vertical farms in Pittsburgh. Its products have been sold at Whole Foods Markets and other retailers, as well as Pittsburgh restaurants. The company has raised more than $35 million from private investors with ties to Carnegie Mellon University, where it incubated at the Swartz Center Entrepreneurship.

“The goal through our first three years of development was to prove we could bring fresh food to urban customers at prices competitive with conventionally grown produce,” Austin Webb, co-founder and CEO said, said in the release.

“We have developed fully integrated, proprietary technology to completely control the hydroponic growing process and optimize key factors such as energy, labor usage and crop output,” Webb said, resulting in lower costs and higher efficiencies than traditional vertical farms.

The Braddock farm will produce more than 500,000 pounds of lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula and herbs from its 25,000-square-foot grow room during the first full year of operation, according to the release.

Cattle group to answer questions from leafy greens industry

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:11:30 GMT

As leafy greens growers in Arizona and California widen buffer zones between their fields and cattle operations, a web seminar seeks to inform growers about how livestock facilities are managed.

Western Growers and California Cattlemen’s Association are partnering for a one-hour web seminar at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Oct. 10.

“With recent attention on the nexus between livestock and fresh produce operations, many questions have arisen about how these facilities are managed, the environmental controls surrounding these operations and some best practices to protect growing regions,” according to a Western Growers news release on the event.

Justin Oldfield, vice president of government relations at the California Cattlemen’s Association, and Jesse Larios, manager at Foster Feed Yard, Brawley, Calif., will “de-mystify what goes on inside a cattle feeding operation and explain their interest in being good neighbors,” according to the Western Growers release. They’ll also answer questions from participants.

Registration, which closes at the end of the business day Oct. 8, is available online .

Registration is free for Western Growers members and $100 for non-members.

Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigators looking into the cause of an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce grown in Yuma, Ariz., this year were unable to find a specific cause of the outbreak. They did, however, find the same strain of E. coli in an irrigation canal used on fields in the area. A part of that canal is near a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) that has more than 100,000 head of cattle at times.

In September, the Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement tripled the required distance from a CAFO to a leafy greens operation from 400 to 1,200 feet. In late September, the California Leafy Green Agreement did the same, but increased the mandatory buffer to a mile for operations of 80,000 heads of cattle or more.

Satur Farms recalls spinach, mesclun over salmonella concerns

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:41:20 GMT

See related article: Whole Foods joins recall of baby spinach from New York

Satur Farms , Cutchogue, N.Y., is recalling baby spinach and mesclun mix over salmonella concerns.

The recall, posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s site on Jan. 23, involves retail and foodservice products. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall, according to the company’s notice.

Routine sample testing by the state departments of agriculture in Florida and New York prompted Satur Farms to initiate the recall. According to a label on a clamshell supplied by the FDA, the product was grown in Florida.

The products, distributed in New York and Florida, are:

Satur Farms Baby Spinach, Mesclun, packed in 5-, 10- and 16-ounce clamshells for retail; and
Satur Farms foodservice product in sealed poly bags, 2.5-, 3-, and 4-pounds, and bags containing four 2.5-pound packages and bags containing four 3-pound packages. Lot codes are 18494 and 18513 for spinach, and 18520 for mesclun.

Satur Farms is asking wholesalers and retailers who received the products to pull them from sales, and contact customers who have received them. For more information, contact Satur Farms at 631-734-4219 or info@saturfarms.com .

Supermarkets scale back produce ads during COVID-19 lockdown

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:38:31 GMT

In the continuing market disruption related to the COVID-19, supermarkets are not running their typical amount of weekly promotions for fruits and vegetables.

In the latest April 10 National Retail Report for Specialty Crops , the USDA reported:

“This week saw a slight increase in ads, likely due to Easter promotions and perhaps to an improvement of supply chain kinks. Recently instated policies such as quantity limits, no rainchecks, and social distancing requirements were still in effect with no sign of returning to normal.

Total ad numbers this week were 208,333, a 3% increase from last week’s 202,735, and an 8% decrease from 2 weeks ago. Seventeen percent of regularly reported stores had no ad this week and specifically cited COVID-19 as the reason.

The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 99,348 (48% of all ads), onions and potatoes 9,658 (5%), vegetables 85,007 (41%), herbs 259, and ornamentals 14,061 (7%). The number of ads for organic produce was 11,985, 6% of total ads. The number of ads for hemp were 282.”

Hemp, huh? In the April 12 report from a year ago, the USDA commentary read:

“With Easter and Passover just days away, produce aisles abounded with everything shoppers needed for holiday celebrations. Spring favorites such as cantaloupe, watermelon, asparagus, corn, yellow squash, and strawberries were readily available. Staples for holiday meals were showcased heavily, including apples, grapes, pineapples, raspberries, avocados, green beans, carrots, corn, mushrooms, sweet potatoes and roma tomatoes.

Floral departments were decked out in Easter lilies, daffodils, and tulips. Most retailers featured a special section for Easter candy, decorations, and bakery items.

Total ad numbers this week were 369,234, about steady from last weeks 371,577.

The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 139,379 (46% of all ads), onions and potatoes 31,746 (9%), vegetables 157,093 (43%), herbs 1,199, and ornamentals 9,817 (3%). The number of ads for organic produce was 50,685, 14% of total ads.”

TK: Comparing the April 10 report this year to the April 12 report last year, total ad numbers in 2020 were a whopping 44% lower.

Here are further comparisons that speak to the importance of individual commodities compared with the whole pie:

This year, the percentage of fruit on ad (as a percent of total fruit) on April 10, compared with the same week last year:

Apples: 16%, compared with 15% last year;
Blueberries: 6%, compared with 5% last year;
Cantaloupes: 5%, compared with 4% last year;
Grapes: 12%, compared with 8% last year;
Misc Berries: 7%, no change from last year;
Oranges: 8%, no change from last year;
Pineapples: 10%, compared with 6% last year;
Strawberries: 8%, compared with 6% last year;

For vegetables, here are the percentages of individual vegetables on ad (as a percent of vegetables on ad), compared with the same week a year ago:

Asparagus: 14%, no data a year ago;
Beans: 4%, compared with 3% last year;
Carrots: 7%, compared with 8% last year;
Celery: 4%, no data a year ago;
Corn-Sweet: 6%, no data a year ago;
Onions: 5%, compared with 6% last year;
Bell peppers: 8%, no change compared with a year ago;
Potatoes: 5%, compared with 11% last year;
Salad: 7%, compared with 6% lat year;
Sweet Potatoes: 8%, no data a year ago.

TK: With retailers experiencing a new baseline of demand with the contraction of foodservice, the normal beat of supermarket produce promotions has changed.

I find it interesting that 2020 promotions of asparagus are way up compared with a year ago, however. Why is that? It could be that retailers did not feel the need to promote potatoes (or other hardware veggies) since they have been flying off shelves, and that asparagus simply seemed to make sense as a seasonally strong option that could pull consumers in the store. Give a gold medal to asparagus marketers to garner that much retail attention.

Packer COVID-19 Updates

President Biden, ask your FDA leadership to visit a lettuce farm!

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:21:02 GMT

Food safety attorney Bill Marler was heavily promoting his appearance a couple weeks ago at the Food and Drug Law Institute conference with posts on social media. In his own publication, Food Safety News, he called on President Biden to have leaders at FDA visit Makayla and Lucas , two children impacted by recent foodborne illness outbreaks associated with leafy greens. Lucas and Marler were also the focus of an older investigative news report that was rerun last weekend by the Canadian Broadcasting Co.

Without question, stories of people — especially children — who’ve been stricken with foodborne illness are difficult to watch. Marler takes full advantage of that in both his FSN column and in the CBC’s investigative news piece. Sadly, neither Marler nor the investigative reporter mentioned anything about efforts of the lettuce industry to prevent outbreaks like those that sickened Lucas.

Let’s face it, Mr. Marler has made a lot of money telling a story in which young children are the victims, lettuce farmers are the villains and he plays the hero.

To be fair, Bill Marler’s penchant for lawsuits against food businesses has had a real and significant impact on the safety of our food supply. No one wants to get sued and many companies have cleaned up their acts to prevent that from happening.

Also, to his credit, Marler’s participation at the Food and Drug Law Institute’s conference on a panel with Jennifer McEntire of United Fresh Produce Association represents a sincere effort to help bring to light efforts being made by industry to prevent outbreaks.

But wouldn’t it be great if everyone could hear the kind of information Jennifer presented at this conference? Wouldn’t it be beneficial for people to know things like:

The last thing lettuce farmers want is for people to get sick from their product.
Lettuce farmers in California and Arizona have come together under a stringent food safety program known as the LGMA.
Under this program, farmers must follow required food safety practices that are much more stringent than those included under federal food safety laws for other produce items. Required practices include mandatory water testing.
Government auditors visit LGMA member farms about four times a year to make sure they are following all required practices.
Lettuce farmers are in a cycle of continuous improvement to improve food safety practices on their farms.

Lettuce farmers fund millions of dollars in research to better understand food safety on the farm through the Center for Produce Safety.

Bill Marler and many FDA officials know this. They’ve been to California and Arizona to see the LGMA programs in action. In our personal conversations with them, we’ve received a great deal of positive feedback. But that’s as far as it goes. It’s rare that we hear anyone make a public statement about the efforts of lettuce farmers to end outbreaks.

It’s too bad, because we believe the parents of Lucas Parker should know that since the E. coli outbreak that sickened their son, the California and Arizona leafy greens industry have taken action. It’s because of Lucas that new, even more stringent requirements have been implemented throughout the lettuce industry to make sure water used in farming leafy greens is always safe for use.

Lucas’ parents should also know that lettuce farmers aren’t finished yet. All food safety practices included under our program are being reviewed and updated. This includes additional safety measures to further prevent contamination of leafy greens farms from nearby animals.

California and Arizona lettuce producers are focused on doing everything possible to prevent outbreaks.

We’re happy to open our fields at any time to the president, to any member of his administration, to the media or to Mr. Marler. We want people to see what’s actually happening on a lettuce farm.

It really is important that we begin to change the narrative when it comes to rhetoric about leafy greens food safety. Everyone wants an end to foodborne illnesses. Understanding the facts about what the leafy greens industry is already doing to prevent illness means we can all focus on calculating what additional measures we can take to stop these outbreaks.

Tim York is CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.

More from Tim York:
Improving food safety — a culture of collaboration

A food safety call to produce buyers

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:37 GMT

On April 16 the California LGMA Board took decisive action to endorse pre-harvest testing guidance. The guidance recommends pre-harvest testing specifically when leafy greens are being farmed in proximity to animal operations.

It’s the intention of the board to include pre-harvest testing as part of the LGMA audit checklist so the government can verify that all LGMA members are in compliance.

This is the first time an entire commodity group will be required to conduct pre-harvest testing.

This is a big deal, but a necessary response to the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration report on outbreaks associated with lettuce in 2020. The findings and regulatory language used by FDA in this report were nothing short of a warning shot that calls on our industry to do more to stop outbreaks.

And so, we must do more.

Updating LGMA’s required food safety practices is an involved process that seeks input from scientists, food safety experts and the public. No other entity is capable of making such widespread change as quickly as we can.

Some weeks ago, in the first piece I wrote for The Packer as CEO of the California LGMA, I stressed the need for collaboration with the retail and foodservice buying community, noting that we must lean on each other to make needed improvements together. And now, I am asking for your help.

Updating LGMA’s required food safety practices is an involved process that seeks input from scientists, food safety experts and the public. No other entity is capable of making such widespread change as quickly as we can. But it will take some time.

The LGMA is working as quickly as we can to educate members on how to conduct the necessary risk assessments for pre-harvest testing. We’re also working on an updated adjacent land risk assessment tool and, in collaboration with Dr. Trevor Suslow, a pre-harvest testing methodology is being developed.

In order for pre-harvest testing to become an official LGMA requirement, it must go through the public input process administered through Western Growers. Our goal is to have that in place as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, the fastest and most efficient means of implementing pre-harvest testing on leafy greens farms is for buyers to require their suppliers to follow the LGMA guidance available here .

Under the LGMA system, buyers have always played an important role when it comes to enforcing food safety practices on leafy greens farms. When buyers demand something of their suppliers, it almost always happens.

So, I am asking the buying community for two very important things to help prevent future foodborne illness outbreaks.

First, we urge buyers to accept and require the LGMA’s pre-harvest testing guidance of all your leafy greens suppliers.

Simply put, when buyers support the LGMA, they support a system that offers the best path to reduce incidents of foodborne illness.

Second, we encourage you to become part of the process to establish LGMA as the standard for leafy greens food safety. In the coming weeks and months, the LGMA will be making several more changes to update and strengthen our practices utilizing input from the FDA and some of the best and brightest minds in the produce industry. We would really like the buying community to be a part of this effort.

The LGMA provides a unique system that establishes and verifies food safety practices for California and Arizona farmers who produce over 90% of the leafy greens consumed in the U.S. The LGMA is and should be how food safety standards for leafy greens are determined.

When produce buyers require their suppliers to be certified members of the LGMA, they reinforce best practices uniformly on leafy greens farms. Simply put, when buyers support the LGMA, they support a system that offers the best path to reduce incidents of foodborne illness.

Isn’t that what we all want?

Tim York is CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.

Fear of flying and building trust

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:29 GMT

A recent Wall Street Journal article titled The Airline Safety Revolution caught my eye and should be required reading for the leafy greens industry and our food safety regulators.

Over the past 12 years, U.S. airlines have accomplished an astonishing feat: carrying more than eight billion passengers without a fatal crash. Airline safety records show that in 1996 the fatal accident rate was one crash for every 2 million departures. The fatality rate is now down to one for every 120 million departures. The only passenger death in the past dozen years was from an engine fan blade coming apart during a 2018 flight.

Is there something the produce industry can learn from this? The answer is most definitely yes. It’s the story of what can be accomplished when everyone — in this case pilots, labor representatives, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and regulators — get together for a common cause: increasing flight safety. As the article describes it, a “wickedly difficult” process. Difficult because it required trust among the stakeholders, including the Federal Aviation Administration.

The article outlines how representatives of airlines grudgingly agreed to share information with each other, as well as with government, regarding budding hazards and near crashes. The cooperation was contingent on FAA pledges that good-faith mistakes and procedural violations wouldn’t result in enforcement actions. This amazing improvement in safety stems from a commitment by government and industry to discover safety improvements by analyzing huge amounts of flight data and reviewing tens of thousands of detailed reports filed by mechanics, air-traffic controllers, and pilots. Responses led to voluntary improvements rather than mandatory government regulations.

The fresh produce industry has made several efforts to anonymize and aggregate food safety data, but in the end, they have all fallen short because of trust — or, more accurately, lack of it. Many in our industry consider the tactics of the FDA to be heavy-handed and describe a culture that lacks interest in collaborating with its regulated parties. Bottom line — trust among competing growers and handlers is shaky at best. But the concern that regulators will use data against them is pervasive. And therein lies the biggest impediment to improving our own safety record.

“The data will set you free”, said Nick Sabatini, former FAA official. He describes airlines comparing information gleaned with competitors and the broader industry as one of the keys to the airline industry’s dramatically improved safety record.

We’ve heard this same sentiment from some in our industry. For example, Drew McDonald, VP of quality and safety at Taylor Farms, is known to describe enhanced product sampling as “test and learn.” McDonald says every test for pathogens, whether negative or positive, is a learning opportunity. What does the result tell us? Are our practices working?

We now have an excellent opportunity for industry to partner with government as part of a sweeping longitudinal study in the Salinas Valley being undertaken by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, FDA and industry. Western Growers, the LGMA’s partner in standards development, is undertaking a data-sharing initiative that will be underway by this fall. In fact, WG is currently developing a Food Safety Data Sharing Tool to be announced soon.
Will we trust in these efforts?

We should. A jumbo jet crash can result in a loss of $1 billion. What do repeated recalls cost our industry? What does the FDA stating do not eat spinach or romaine cost us financially, and reputationally? And tragically, what about the people that consume our products and are sickened and whose lives are impacted or even lost? The cost to them and their families has a lasting impact.

Leading companies in the lettuce and leafy greens industry need to envision what is possible with a new mindset, one where we trust each other and learn from each other. We’ll hope for the FDA’s cooperation as well. But their involvement should not impede us from learning from our data, sharing that with others and making systemic improvements based on these learnings.

The entire industry needs to participate and collaborate. We need to learn from each other. We need to make data driven improvements in food safety.

Tim York is CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.

A peek behind the curtain at LGMA

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:28:30 GMT

Sustainability has been a long-simmering trend that has now hit the front burner. The Packer, for example, has published a number of articles and held workshops to help define and shape the discussion of “what is sustainability?”

In many ways sustainability is really just about people peeking behind the curtain to learn how our food is grown. Consumers increasingly want to know what chemicals are used, how workers are treated, and, ultimately, to be assured their food is fresh, nutritious and safe.

The desire to know what’s behind the products we buy has sparked an era of public scrutiny into companies around the globe. Americans are more skeptical and distrustful than ever and, thus, they seek to align with companies and products that reflect their values. According to marketing experts, the desire to know more about what’s behind the products we buy has increased during the pandemic.

Yet, at the same time, millions of us were forced to forsake our favorite brands in the face of panic buying. (Think toilet paper!) Make no mistake, consumers are returning to their wary ways and want to know more about the products, people and companies they support with their dollars.

I’ve written in this column before about purpose and ensuring that our organizations, our employees and all stakeholders understand “why” we exist. British-American author and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek wrote a book called “First Ask Why” and has an 18-minute YouTube video that may save you reading the book. What Sinek rightfully advocates is that we absolutely must define the purpose of our organizations.

As he says, all our employees know what they do, some may know how they do it, but how many know why they do their jobs? And the why is not about profit, it’s about purpose and why the organization exists. Our values guide us in good times and bad, and a clearly defined organizational purpose will articulate the benefits of our organizations to our employees, customers and society as a whole.

At the LGMA we’ve examined our role in society and the benefits we deliver. What we do is develop stringent food safety standards and ensure they’re followed on leafy greens farms. How we do it is by serving as a catalyst and a conduit to improved safety practices that are guided by evolving science. Then we train growers to implement these practices. Why we exist is pretty simple — to make leafy greens safer.

When I first came to the LGMA, I asked our staff to develop a short statement to describe the organization. What we came up with is a new tagline that reads as follows; The LGMA brings farmers together to make lettuce and leafy greens safer. Importantly, this description of the LGMA includes our “why.”

The LGMA is so fortunate to have staff, committee members, committee chairs and a board of advisors who are clearly focused on our purpose. They understand it and embrace it. That’s a legacy I inherited when I came to LGMA and which I’ll continue to nurture.

I’m firmly convinced that as pandemic-created product shortages subside, people will be looking even more closely at why a company exists and why they should support its goods and services. This is a story we must all be prepared to tell.

Tim York is CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. Read more of his columns here.

Where were you when ...?

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:28:42 GMT

The day President Kennedy was shot was my eighth birthday and I was home, sick from school. I remember my grandmother calling to tell my mom the president had been shot and was dead.

September 11, 2001: I was heading out the door to go to work when I got a call from my stepmom. She told me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center and to turn on the TV. I was watching live with countless other Americans when the second tower was hit.

Likewise, I remember vividly where I was on Sept. 15, 2006, when the Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory warning consumers not to eat spinach. Ironically, I was at a celebratory event honoring the produce industry in the Salinas Valley of California. We literally were walking around eating salads as our phones began dinging with the FDA’s advisory.

We remember these moments because they disrupt life as we know it and we have a sense the world is forever changed — and often not for the better. Obviously, for the consumers of spinach who were sickened or died in the 2006 outbreak, their worlds and their families’ lives shifted forever. Although in a completely different way, for those of us in the produce industry, the event was life-changing as well.

Following that day in September 2006, produce industry trade associations jumped in to help us navigate the media onslaught and recalls. We worked to begin rebuilding our industry’s reputation and we began to understand that we all must adjust to a new reality. Food safety was now the core focus of our businesses. No longer could we think of food safety as “another thing we have to do.” Food safety is now the most essential thing we do. And we had to do it right.

As part of this new reality, the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement was born. The LGMA was in part a response to buyers like Markon (my former employer), Wegmans, Sysco, Schnuck’s, Kroger and many other retail and foodservice businesses who were demanding the industry change its practices.

What we asked for back then were food safety programs that were specific, measurable and verifiable. No longer would food safety guidance that used words like “consider” or “should” be acceptable. Instead, we needed stronger requirements that focused on what “must” or “shall” take place on leafy greens farms. And, as buyers, we expected suppliers to prove they were implementing good agricultural practices on their farms.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s response was to develop the LGMA. Together with industry expertise, that set food safety standards and then verified those standards were being implemented on California leafy greens farms using USDA-trained auditors. That was the right thing to do back then and it’s just as critical today.

As the LGMA continues to evolve and strengthen its requirements, the lives and livelihoods of leafy greens farmers continue to be changed — perhaps not as significantly as when the LGMA was first created 14 years ago. But, make no mistake, the way leafy greens are farmed is very different today than just two or three years ago.

In the past three years, new standards have been added to the LGMA program to ensure water used to farm leafy greens is safe and that equipment is effectively cleaned and sanitized. Most recently, new practices are now required to ensure the safe use of fertilizers, compost and other soil amendments and crop inputs, and mandatory testing of fields prior to harvest is now required when certain risk factors are present.

The vision we had in 2006 of a food safety program for leafy greens is our reality. As we had hoped, specific requirements are, in fact, measured and verified. They are also continually updated.

For some of us, we don’t know a time when this wasn’t how leafy greens were farmed. We can’t remember when there wasn’t an LGMA or when auditors didn’t visit our farms each day. Food safety is so pervasive throughout or industry that it’s just a part of who we are. And that is a change for the good.

Tim York is CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.

More from Tim York:
What’s behind LGMA’s preharvest testing requirement
Pathogen testing: A positive test can be a positive thing
Fear of flying and building trust

What’s behind LGMA’s preharvest testing requirement

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:28:55 GMT

As a candidate to become the new CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, I was clear in interviews with board members that I was only interested in the job if they were serious about taking real action to prevent future outbreaks.

Without hesitation, board members assured me they were.

Fast-forward six months into my employment with the LGMA and exactly what the board promised has happened. At its last meeting, the LGMA board voted unanimously to require its members to conduct preharvest testing of product grown in fields where elevated risk factors may be present.

I’m not sure if people realize what a significant action this is when it comes to leafy greens safety and what a tremendous commitment it is for lettuce farmers. That’s why I’m taking the opportunity here to explain exactly what this requirement will entail.

First and foremost, everyone needs to understand the LGMA food safety program already includes restrictions that don’t allow leafy greens to be planted in areas of high risk. The program has minimum buffer zones in place for areas in the proximity of animals. For example, under the California LGMA, leafy greens cannot be planted within a mile of a large Concentrated Animal Feed Operation or CAFO.

New preharvest testing requirements now being added by the LGMA program are designed to verify existing requirements are working and to ensure that extra precautions are being taken if there is even a suspicion that risk may be elevated in a particular field.

Specifics of the new preharvest testing requirements are still being finalized. But the LGMA board action now makes this testing a universal requirement with standardized protocols, and it will be verified as part of the LGMA’s government audits.

When the details are officially adopted, they will require that LGMA members conduct a risk assessment for each field in which they plan to grow leafy greens. Guidelines for determining the risk status of a field are being finalized now. A partial list can be found here .

If the assessment shows elevated risk factors are present, the product grown in that field must be tested for pathogens 4 to 7 days before it can be harvested. Protocols for a standardized sampling and testing methodology are currently being finalized through a process coordinated by Western Growers. This process is extremely thorough and involves a team of food safety experts who are fully vetting the methodology to ensure lettuce farmers are using the best science available.

In summary, the protocol mandates that several random product samples must be collected throughout the field.

These samples will need to meet a minimum weight per acre. Each sample will be tested for the presence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and Salmonella enterica.

Growers will be marking and recording where in the field individual samples were collected. This is required because if any test comes back positive for a pathogen, growers are required to do two things:

1. They cannot harvest product in that area; and

2. They must conduct what’s called a root cause analysis to determine how that area of the field may have been contaminated.

Both requirements are extremely important. Obviously, we don’t want to harvest any product that may be contaminated, and the testing protocol is designed to help keep pathogens from entering market channels. But the requirement for conducting root cause analysis may be even more important.

If we truly want to prevent future outbreaks, we need more information about how contamination is happening. A root cause analysis can help identify fundamental systemic issues and failures and can help prevent recurrence of these issues. Over time, the industry’s data can be used to further improve the LGMA program requirements.

It’s fair to point out that many LGMA members are already doing preharvest testing. In a recent survey, 90% of LGMA members report they are conducting pre-harvest testing on a regular basis. But the LGMA board action now makes this testing a universal requirement and it will be verified as part of the LGMA’s government audits.

Fortunately, our efforts are being recognized. I’m pleased to report the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recently announced it will be considering the LGMA’s new preharvest testing requirement as a condition for importing lettuce and leafy greens into Canada if sufficient documentation can be provided.

If approved, this action could be an option to replace the finished product testing requirement issued by CFIA last year, which was extremely onerous. We’re very hopeful that U.S. retail and foodservice operations will follow suit.

We say this all the time — LGMA members are committed to food safety. These preharvest testing and the accompanying root cause analysis requirements are real evidence of that. And I couldn’t be prouder to be associated with an organization going to these lengths to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks.

Tim York is CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.

Consumers seek out specific types of items as organic

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 15:49:38 GMT

Selections at the supermarket are sometimes based on a whim, but when you look at consumer data and track the trends, Organic Fresh Trends research shows that shoppers search for particular items in organic form. Leafy greens like kale and spinach have topped the list for several years, followed by berries . This year avocados moved up in the mix significantly.

Always opting for organic

Avocados were the biggest year-to-year in organics this year. Shoppers who bought organic avocados exclusively moved the fruit from the No. 12 spot last year to the No. 3 spot for 2022. Avocados were also No. 3 on the list of items purchased as organic periodically (up from the No. 7 spot last year).

Sixteen percent of shoppers in Organic Fresh Trends 2022 said they always chose organic avocados, while only 10% said so last year.

Kale remains the king of organic-only purchases—23% of kale buyers said they always chose organic greens (up from 21% who said the same last year). Spinach claimed the No. 2 spot (which was also true last year) for organically
exclusive purchases, with one-fifth of buyers saying they chose organic every time they bought spinach.

While some might lump all tender leafy items into this category, they shouldn’t. Interestingly, fewer shoppers sought out organic bagged salad mix this year. The likelihood of an organic-only salad mix purchase dipped from 12% to 10% this year, forcing salad mix to the bottom of the list for organic-exclusive purchases (of items studied by Organic Fresh Trends 2022).

More shoppers chose organic strawberries exclusively in the past 12 months (15% said so), and the fruit inched out blueberries this year (although the percentage of buyers choosing organic blueberries remained the same as in 2021).

Avocados and carrots moved up in the lineup to No. 3 for organic exclusive purchases this year.

Buying organic periodically

When it came to periodic organic purchases, nearly half of all kale buyers (48%) noted that they bought organic kale at least some of the time—making it the top item purchased as organic periodically. Kale has held the top spot on this list for the past three years.

Interest in organic spinach rose this year, with 44% of spinach buyers saying they selected organic at least some of the time—up from 36% who said so last year. Blueberries and strawberries also came out on top of the list of commodities that consumers chose to buy as organic periodically.

In addition to being a mover in the exclusively organic category, avocados were also a top contender among items that shoppers periodically bought as organic. While 30% of shoppers last year were prone to buy organic avocados at least some of the time, this year 38% of buyers said they chose organic avocados periodically.

Read the entire 2022 Organic Fresh Trends Magazine here.