Costco Wholesale Corp.’s sales of organic produce have seen tremendous growth recently. In 2014, the company’s organics were approaching $3 billion in sales, which Richard Galanti, chief financial officer, said was more than twice what the company did two years earlier.

Southern Specialties presented the company’s first “True Partner” award to Sysco produce at the Southeast Produce Council’s Annual Southern Exposure convention.

Southern Specialties created the award to recognize the customer that best supports the sustainable efforts of the company.

The number and sales of produce items at retail that fit into the convenience or value-added category continue to grow, according to Galina Zelfond-Orlosky, category business manager for produce for Daymon Worldwide.

Zelfond-Orlosky is stationed in New England for Daymon, an international firm that specializes in representing branded product at the retail level.

“We are seeing significant growth in retail business for these items,” she told The Produce News.

With more than 33,000 acres that are certified organic, carrot giant Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, CA, is a significant player in the production of organic carrots and other fresh vegetables.

Bob Borda, vice president of marketing for the firm, said the firms Cal-Organic Farms division sells about 65 different vegetables under the Cal-Organics banner including all the leafy greens, cauliflower, leeks, broccoli, bok choy and, of course, carrots.

Chris Smotherman, sales manager for Arvin, CA-based Kern Ridge Growers, said the juicing craze continues to take hold, which is a great boon for the carrot industry.

While you can juice just about any produce item, there aren’t too many sold in volume and at a price point that actually makes juicing economical. But carrots are such an item.

“Many retailers carry bulk carrots (in 25 or 50 pound sacks) just for that reason,” Smotherman said.