Hollandia Produce LLC, a grower-shipper of hydroponically grown hothouse produce, has reshaped its “Live Gourmet” living lettuce package to better meet its customers’ needs related to merchandising, physical protection, food safety, sustainability and transportation.

Hollandia’s patented and ultra-modern clamshell, dubbed the “squircle,” enables the Carpinteria, CA-based firm to increase units per pallet by 20 percent, automate much of the packaging processes and reduce the total board feet of cardboard used annually to package and ship its products.

On request from its customers, Riverbend Fresh LLC, in Kerman, CA, switched to organic tomato production three years ago. Dennis Peterson, owner of the company, said it was previously handling conventional heirloom tomatoes.

“Our customers said they could sell more organic,” said Mr. Peterson. “Today our strongest selling organic products, which we will have this year, are cherry heirloom, grape and Roma tomatoes.”

Kevin Donovan, national sales manager for Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square, PA, told The Produce News that the firm’s organic line of mushrooms continues to grow in popularity.

“White organic mushrooms are most popular, and is where we’re seeing the greatest growth,” said Mr. Donovan. “But we are also seeing strong growth with Baby Bellas. And we are anticipating an increase in demand for Portobellas as summer encroaches.”

He added that things are looking better in the organic mushroom category than when the economy was at the bottom of its crunch.

Wholesum Family Farms Inc., better known as Wholesum Harvest, in Nogales, AZ, is a third-generation family farm that has grown safe, wholesome food for 80 years. The family pioneer, Miguel Crisantes Gatzionis, migrated from Greece to Mexico in the 1920s and started farming in Sinaloa, Mexico, in 1930.

Anthony Totta, marketing and business development consultant for the company, told The Produce News that the grower-shipper has handled organic items since 1990.

“We have an exciting summer planned as part of the continuation of the rollout of ‘Deardorff Organics,’ “ said Scott Albertson, director of marketing and business development for Deardorff Family Farms in Oxnard, CA.”

Neil Millman, chief executive officer for I Love Produce in Kelton, PA, told The Produce News that the company is very excited about the remainder of 2011.

“The market for our organic products continues to grow and our company is also growing,” said Mr. Millman. “The organic fresh ginger deal out of Peru is increasing, and we’re now just switching into the new crop. The quality, price and shelf life of this product is a big unqualified winner. Also, we have ginger from other growing areas in the United States as well as from other countries.”