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Every year OGC continues to make progress toward 5 key sustainability goals. We'd like to highlight each of these goals over the next weeks.
Farmers and farmworkers are truly the backbone of our business. Our work with over 340 organic farms (small, medium and large) growing the best quality organic produce is what makes us a successful distributor and change agent in the larger organic trade. We are proud to partner with an amazing network of growers and support them through a diversity of grower services.
We offer transparency to sourcing information by featuring grower names on our price sheets. We work closely with growers to coordinate crops in an effort to help them better plan, thereby mitigating the risk of over/under production - increasing local farm economic stability.
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Produce Report
Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer grilling season. School is winding down and hopefully the weather is warming up, so it's time to promote picnic and BBQ in the produce department. Displays should reflect the local seasonal offerings like asparagus, sweet onion, and corn, with grilling staples like Portabella and bell peppers. Stone fruits like cherries, peaches, nectarines, and apricots are great impulse buys when shoppers are in getting in the mood for summer. Build displays that highlight the variety and great taste of this early fruit. Finally, don't get caught without enough watermelon!! If refrigeration is available, offer half and quartered watermelon.
Grapes The sun is coming out more, and people are picnicking, eating outside, backpacking, and there's still a solid month of school lunches to be packed. Cue the grapes! Nearly two-thirds of consumers purchased grapes last year, and over 80% of consumers say they eat them as a snack. They really are a must have commodity that can drive sales and help your bottom-line. Both green and red grapes from
Divine Flavor in Mexico are coming in 18# cases. Volumes are good and quality has been great.
We'll also see the first Red Flame from Anthony Vineyards in California in 19# cases. Expect prices on this first round to be a bit higher than Mexican fruit; as the season comes on, prices will come off a tad. Green grapes from the sunshine state are still not on yet. Specialty grapes like Cotton Candy are still about two weeks out. Black grapes are mostly gapping, but keep them on your list since it's likely we will have a few.
Display tips: Grapes are fragile, so don't stack bags and handle with care. Product can be displayed for about 24 hours without refrigeration, with an average shelf life of 2 - 3 days on a refrigerated display. Make room! Big displays have been proven to increase sales, since roughly 45% of grape purchases are impulse buys. Bags should be easy to see and easy to grab!
Portabella Mushrooms Portabella, Crimini and white mushroom, all classified as Agaricus bisporus, are an edible mushroom native to grasslands of Europe and North America. White and Crimini mushrooms are the two immature color variations, and Portabella are the mature state of this mushroom. The first commercial cultivation of A. bisporus was described by French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort in 1707. Original cultivation was unreliable; growers looked for wild flushes, dug up the mycelium, and replanted in composted mature. It wasn't until 1893 that a purified strain of the mycelium was produced for planting in sterile compost in order to yield consistent, uncontaminated mushrooms.
With their size and meaty texture, Portabella are a versatile ingredient, often used as a substitute for animal protein. In the spring and summer, they are a must have for grilling and can be cooked whole for the perfect "burger" or as a rich and savory addition to veggie kabobs. A simple trick to help the Portabella keep its moisture while grilling is to soak it in water for a few minutes before throwing on the grill, and then just brush the marinade on.
Vidalia Onions The story of the Vidalia is one of pride, territory and springtime. In 1931, a farmer was surprised to discover post-harvest that the onions he was growing were unusually sweet. It was later determined that their sweetness came from the low levels of sulfur in the soil found in the small community of Vidalia, Georgia, and surrounding counties including Glennville. Today, Vidalia are still only grown by a limited number of farms due to a Georgia law that prohibits the growing of this variety without permission elsewhere.
This is not your everyday onion. Some people find them sweet enough to eat like an apple, while others buy them by the bag load for grilling and roasting. Their loose skins can be a bit of an eye sore to the unfamiliar customer, but worry not, this is just how they look! Our Vidalia supply is coming to you from Bland Farms in Glennville, GA.
Corn The rumors are true! For a short time we will have yellow, bi-color (often called the butter and sugar variety) corn, from California! Supplies may run out before Memorial Day weekend; with good weather headed toward the Northwest, it's a good idea to grab what's available for customers looking for that first taste of summer. The yellow/white kernels are sweet and starchy - enhance with a good sage butter or dressed in olive oil with salt and pepper. Grill, steam, roast or just eat right off the cob - it's also easy to shave off the kernels and use in salads, chilis and soups!
A common issue that plagues all corn growers is the dreaded earworm. Most conventional growers have an arsenal of chemicals and sprays they can use to attempt at controlling the pest, and still it prevails, while organic growers must try to control the pest without the use of synthetic chemicals and pesticides. If there is any minor earworm damage, it typically affects just the tip of the ear, and the rest of the corn is perfectly fine to eat and enjoy. The reward for those willing to work with the product is twofold - the fresh, sweet first taste of summer and the warm fuzzies one gets supporting an organic farmer working hard to bring you delicious corn!
Display tips: Corn likes air - avoid tightly stacked displays. The husks are nice for folks who grill, but keep a compost bin nearby to keep your floors and displays looking nice for customers who might remove them for further inspection. Removing the husks yourself helps busy consumers find the perfect match quickly and can keep your displays cleaner.
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Apple Pinks are still blending with import and domestic supply available with pricing mostly equivalent. Promotable varieties are Gala, Fuji, and Cameo. Import Granny Smith are sizing small to start with bagged option in a 2# or 3# pack. Braeburn on the way!
Banana Supply is steady and blended between Ecuador and Mexico
Berries Blueberry deals available on 6 oz; great volume on pints and 18 oz. Raspberries down a bit. Strawberries continue to flow out of California with great quality and pricing.
Citrus The incredible shrinking category! Valencia is on in earnest as Navel, Gold Nugget, and Tango wrap. Small shots of Blood oranges still available. Lemons will continue to be tight, but we are meeting the need. Last of the Texas grapefruit crop is in house; California supply is stable.
Dried Fruit Don't forget to stock up on dates for Ramadan. We have multiple flavor combos for the Figgy Pops, ask your rep!
Figs Breba crop Brown Turkey figs still available.
Grapes Greens and reds both loading out of Mexico and California with a few blacks on the road. Specialty varieties will hit right around the holiday.
Kiwi California season ending, New Zealand staring up with golds likely to ship first. Import supply may be light due to monsoon damage.
Melons Cantaloupe is steady out of Mexico, and domestic starting next week. Mexican honeydew winding down with domestic supply in good shape. Orange dew over. Galia slowing. Bins and minis for watermelon sales in good supply.
Pear Promotions available on Abate Fetel, and Forelle are back in big 45 ct!
Stonefruit Yellow and white nectarines are eating fantastic. Mexican peaches are done, just in time to enjoy some California fruit like Spring Flame. Cherry pricing is dropping. Flavorosa pluots are on the way, and most plums and pluots will be tight this season.
Tropical Fruit Pineapple prices are up. Ataulfo and Tommy Atkins mangos steady. Young coconuts in good supply. Ginger remains tight.
Avocado Expecting some tightness on domestic large fruit, small fruit promotable.
Artichoke Large sizes very tight, babies still available.
Asparagus Volume mostly stable and promotable, a spring hailstorm may leave us a little tight next week.
Beans Bags Limited; bulk remains stable.
Broccoli Bunches Still tight and expensive, baby is stable.
Bunched Greens/Row Crops Cauliflower - deals available. Cabbage - pricing going up on green; Napa from Coke Farms coming on. Local green kale available. NW cilantro gapping momentarily, but California is plentiful.
Carrots Supply is improving with all bunched options.
Celery Oxnard remains the only major player shipping; we will see smaller packs and higher prices continuing well into June.
Cucumber Slicer prices are up a bit. Euros are slowing out of Mexico; mini Persians are in good supply in bulk or bagged options.
Lettuce/Salad Microgreens- selling by the each, so mix and match varieties! Market opening up ad pricing coming down on both red and green leaf. Romaine still somewhat tight.
Mushrooms Crimini and white button great ad items. Portabella should have good volume for Memorial Day Sales. Shiitakes very tight due to a crop failure.
Onions Vidalia plentiful and promotable for Memorial Day sales. Sweet onions have started from the dessert. Local spring onions in good supply with local green onion bunches in house next week.
Peppers No change on mini and green bell. Colored pricing up slightly.
Potatoes Price coming off for new crop colored supply, and promotable for Memorial Day potato salads. Russets are sizing small as we wait for new crop in June. Fingerling bags and bulk packs steady.
Squash Green and yellow summer types limited. Hard squash winding down with availability to meet demand.
Tomatoes Slicer price up slightly. Tasti-Lee wrapping up. Domestic heirlooms starting but still limited. Great supply for TOV and Roma types; plenty of options for grape and cherry types.
Variety Veg Eggplant stable. Spring pea flush is finishing. Red radish is promotable, with trickles of specialty varieties.
Find the Produce Report here.
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There's Funding to Support Organic Farmers, But Many Don't Know It Exists
An internal USDA memo shows a glut of funds remains available to reimburse farmers for organic certification.
Civil Eats l May 16, 2017
Like many organic farmers, Laura Davis would rather not pay hundreds of dollars to certify her farm every year. But in recent years she hasn't had to pay the full cost. That's because Davis, who runs Long Life Farm in Massachusetts, learned about a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that helps producers recoup some of the costs of organic certification. Through its cost-share program, the agency has reimbursed Davis for up to 75 percent of her annual recertification fees-about $900-during most of her farm's seven-year tenure.
"It's probably the easiest step in the whole certification process," said Davis, who grows 100 varieties of vegetables and melons on more than two acres in Massachusetts. "It's one page, and I think we have about a month from the time they send the form out until you have to send it in."
But, unlike Davis, only about half of the nation's organic operations participate in the USDA's organic certification cost-share program. Since the program was created in the 2002 Farm Bill, approximately $60 million has been allocated to it. Not all of the allocated funds have been spent, and due to a series of recent hiccups that have kept that money from reaching farmers, a great deal of money allocated in the 2014 Farm Bill remains available.
Find the rest of the article here.
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