Driscoll's expands organic nursery plant production

After a seven-year process of research and planning, Driscoll's will now provide all of its organic growers with organic nursery plants. The move puts Driscoll's ahead of current regulations regarding nursery plants for organic berry production in the United States.

“In the United States, you can supply conventional plants for organic production under current rules,” said Soren Bjorn, vice president of Driscoll's of the Americas. “So, on our own initiative, and in collaboration with California Certified Organic Farmers, we decided to go beyond current requirements because we believe there will be a day when this will become a requirement.”

Less than 10 percent of Driscoll's current nursery plants are organic, but that percentage will go up in the future. Organic berries represent 15 percent of business for Driscoll's, but Bjorn noted that the organic side is growing twice as fast as the conventional side is growing. In ten years he expects the organic berries to be 25% of their business.

“Our customers are pleased we are making this move and so are organic certifying bodies,” said Bjorn. “Everybody sees this as progress in making organic production sustainable.”

For more information, please visit: www.driscolls.com