Chris Lemmon, organic sales manager at Robinson Fresh, said the organic category is alive and thriving.

“From a national perspective, organics are continuing to trend well as retailers become more expansive in their approach to this category,” he said. “In fact, fresh produce items account for 92 percent of organic food sales [according to the Organic Trade Association]. Previously, organic offerings were somewhat of a sidebar section in the produce department.”

Roger Riehm is looking forward to a return to the fall tomato business. His firm, Blue Creek Produce LLC, will begin its seasonal organic tomato shipments about Sept. 8.

When he spoke with The Produce News on Aug. 21, the summer tomato business was lacking in joy. This summer’s supply was heightened, though, because of mostly great summer weather across the country. He said 25-pound boxes of tomatoes in San Diego were selling for $4.95, before freight.

“Spice World covers all aspects of the garlic industry,” Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, told The Produce News. “From growing, packing, marketing and distribution, we are totally integrated in every way — from seed to plate.

“We farm the soil and the soil grows the crop,” said Dick Peixoto, owner and sole grower of Lakeside Organic Gardens LLC in Watsonville, CA.

“When Dick brought organic produce to the market for the first time in 1996, it was like a dream come true,” said Lindsey Roberts, marketing communications director. “He successfully conquered the challenge of converting over 1,000 acres to certified organic land, which his peers called him crazy for trying. Today, he farms on over 2,000 acres and remains as intimately connected in all aspects of his family-owned-and-operated business.”

“The organic program is extremely important to Del Rey. It is a very big part of our company,” whether it be fruit from California, Mexico or Peru, said Bob Lucy, president of Del Rey Avocado Co.

The company has been getting “very good returns for growers” with organic avocados, and getting good returns for growers is “our number one job,” he said.

Del Rey has been involved in organics for about 10 years, and the program has grown to where the company handles “a very high percentage” of the California organic avocado crop, Lucy said.

MONTE VISTA, CO — Mexican marketing campaigns remain in a holding pattern as the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee awaits further word on the border fully reopening for potato exports from the San Luis Valley, according to CPAC Assistant Director Linda Weyers.

Weyers said in mid-August, “We’re playing the waiting game right now,” noting the committee was awarded a USDA specialty crop block grant early this year to research consumer-direct marketing programs for its Mexican trade.