"Our fresh, organic herbs are 100% Belgian, year-round"

Last year, high energy prices meant there was little supply from those countries' greenhouses, so supermarkets had to switch to imports from Southern Europe. How are things looking this year? We approached ALDI Belgium for more insight into their supplies and strategies for the upcoming winter season. Aldi…

“This year we want to reach the English market with our organic products”

In cooperation with Agroatlas, the leading green bean marketer in Europe, a new firm specializing in organic production has been created in Almeria. "Biogrow Farms has been created both as a producer and marketer, specializing in vine and cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and organic watermelon," said Richi…

Ontario organic growers feeling pressure on pricing amid rising production costs

Organic carrots in Ontario are seeing a solid crop this year. “It’s been a good season for us,” says Markus Pfenning of Pfenning’s Organic Vegetables Inc. “We had decent moisture and the timing of the rain that we got this year was good. It was fairly dry early on in the season, so we irrigated to get…

Organic top fruit: demand exceeds supply

"Demand for organic top fruit exceeds demand," is how René Laan, Stoker Organica's Managing Director sums up the market in late September. This Dutch company sorts, packages, and markets organic fruit. He is especially optimistic about the apple market. "The apple season got off to a rough start. There…

AMI figures and data on organic potatoes and vegetables in Germany

Market analysts Christine Rampold and Tim Boenigk from Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft have presented facts and figures on the organic market at the Bio-Fachforum. The organic area grew by 3.2 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year. "After the big years of conversion in 2016 and 2017, growth…

Organic supermarket chain basic now officially part of the tegut... family

The organic supermarket chain basic belongs to the tegut... family now that the insolvency court has confirmed the insolvency plan and all objection periods have expired. tegut... Managing Director Thomas Gutberlet is delighted that the next steps towards merging the two companies can finally be taken:…

WUR and partners to support Chira Valley organic banana growers

The Chira Valley in Peru is one of the main regions for the cultivation of organic bananas. Unfortunately, it is being seriously affected by Fusarium wilt, also known as Panama disease. Wageningen University & Research and its partners are taking a multi-pronged approach to solving the problem, using…

Combating climate change with artificial intelligence, water technology and robotics

Around 250 trade visitors from organic agriculture, the organic trade and research met for the 7th time in Visselhövede for the Bio-Fachforum Gemüse und Kartoffeln (Organic Vegetables and Potatoes Expert Forum). They listened with interest to several presentations and discussed current challenges and…

6th Biofruit Congress confirms rebound in growth of organic market

The 6th international congress on organic demand, sustainability and innovation was hosted by Eurofresh Distribution and IFEMA during Fruit Attraction on October 3rd, 2023.…

Fricktaler Bio-Pilze GmbH

"Demand for organic mushrooms will continue to grow"

Thomas Suter faced a number of challenges when he took over the mushroom farm in Frick in 2014. Luckily, his father Daniel Suter was at his side, so he was able to benefit from his father's many years of experience and expertise. Today, Fricktaler Bio-Pilze employs 26 people in 20 full-time positions and…

Market Development Facility and Fijian farmers sign ginger farming deal

Fijian ginger farmers will soon be able to tap into the under-supplied certified organic ginger market. This will be made possible under a partnership agreement signed…

“Highlight of a decisive year for the sector”

The 2023 edition of Natexpo took place at Paris Nord Villepinte from October 22nd to 24th. The event, which is 100% dedicated to the organic sector, was seen as a “rebound event” by the organizers, given the “economic and structural challenges facing the organic sector.” ©Natexpo New dynamic?2,500 exhibitors…

"We've experienced double-digit growth in the last six to seven years"

Defeder, which specializes in 100% organic agricultural products, has expanded its international expansion by making its first shipments to South America. The company, which…

More bagged organic citrus expected from California

Organic citrus in California might see a slightly later start to its season. For Creekside Organics, which partnered with Capay Organic in January 2021, it’s in the midst of converting more than 100 acres of land from conventional land to organic land in Porterville, California along with the land Capay…

Large Washington organic apple crop may turn around the situation of declining demand

Washington expects a large apple crop this season, resulting in a production increase for both organic and conventional fruit. “The organic apple crop is much larger than last season,” says Chris Ford with Viva Tierra Organic. “It should translate into lots of retail promotions, which is great for the…

"Our new organic nuts in bulk bags have been well received by the customer"

"Nuts and dried fruits have been highly popular with consumers for several years. This is due to various trends. One of these is of course 'Healthy Snacking'. Many consumers want to eat healthier and are therefore turning to natural ingredients and snacks." "Nuts and dried fruit are perceived by…

Organic produce sales and volume edge up again in Q3

For the second quarter in a row, organic fresh produce in the US grew slightly in year-over-year sales and volume in the third quarter of 2023, according to the Q3 2023 Organic Produce Performance Report issued by Organic Produce Network and Category Partners. Overall, organic fresh produce dollar sales…

“The State of Organic Growing" keynote presentation

Leadership from three progressive organic growing operations have been confirmed as panelists for the second of two keynote presentations at the upcoming Organic Grower Summit (OGS) 2023, presented by Western Growers and OPN. “Grower Roundtable: The State of Organic Growing” will feature panelists Joe…

Bio.Fru.Pro

"We as farms are already organic - now it's time to make the customers organic too"

Bio Fruchtgemüse Produzenten e.V. wants to extend its quality lead and enter into an even closer exchange with its trade partners in the future when communicating the advantages of regionally produced association goods. On Oct. 10 and 11, 2023, members met for their second official meeting since its…

California Keitt mangos have competitive advantage

The short season of California-grown Keitt mangos will wrap up soon. It runs for about six weeks in the months September and October. Keitts are a sweet and large mango variety with size 4 being most popular, but size 3 also being available. In the US, the mango variety is only grown in the desert of the…

U.S. Specialty Crop Coalition endorses legislation addressing nutrition, organics

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree…

"Organic onion market taking it a bit slow"

In the Netherlands, most organic onions are still in the ground, and looking ahead, Green Organics' Robbert Blok expects below-average yields. "Organic onion acreage has remained fairly stable, but we had quite an unusual growing season. Yields will, thus, not be great in the Netherlands or the countries…

IFPA applauds introduction of new organics legislation

International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) applauds the introduction of the Continuous Improvement in Organic Standards Act (CIAO). The bill is a product of a coalition of…

West-Bengal Agricultural Marketing department unveils ‘Organic market’ at New Town

On Tuesday, the Agricultural Marketing department unveiled the first-of-its-kind ‘organic market’, named ‘Sufal Bangla Green’ at New Town. The organic market will act as a…

"We are looking forward to the Peruvian season, despite the challenges"

US supplier and importer of organic fruit, Awe Sum Organics is looking forward to the start of the Peruvian import season. Awe Sum Organic blueberries are arriving this week and Awe Sum Organic seedless grapes will be begin arriving in early December. The weather in Peru has made for very challenging growing…

Organic seed and ag tech ed sessions announced

An educational session on the ever-changing landscape of ag technology for organic growers and a panel discussion on the challenges of organic seed production complete the educational program of the upcoming Organic Grower Summit (OGS) 2023 presented by Western Growers and OPN, slated for November 29-30…

Italian organic courgettes 2023/24 campaign: less quantity but higher quality

"The difficulties in growing organic courgettes due to virosis in the field are testing us, but we're responding with appropriate agronomic measures to continue to guarantee production quality for our commercial partners," says Roberto Giadone, President of Natura Iblea, an Italian company that grows and…

Pennsylvania’s organic mushroom production area more than doubled from 2019 to 2021

In the United States, the leading producer of mushrooms, organic as well as conventional, is Pennsylvania, followed by California. Pennsylvania has been a major producer of mushrooms since the 1880s, and today its growers have developed specialized knowledge and housing equipped with proper ventilation…

“For our export business, we have transitioned from conventional to organic bananas”

Back in 1978, Coliman Bananas- Grupo AGGALL was established with the goal to ensure a reliable supply chain of produce from start to finish. This was achieved by creating a vertically integrated entity, overseeing production, marketing, and distribution. Today, the company is still under the ownership of…

CAES leads $3.2 mln USDA grant to improve organic onion production

A team of researchers from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is partnering with colleagues from Texas A&M University to find…

"Great organic potential in developing countries"

Anuga 2023 has come to an end, leaving participants and visitors in high spirits. This year's event far exceeded the expectations of the Import Promotion Desk (IPD) and provided an ideal platform for producers from developing and emerging countries to make new contacts and forge valuable business…

US scientists study watermelons to improve organic cultivation

Consumer interest in organically produced fruits and vegetables is increasing. To help growers meet this demand, Clemson University scientists are now studying watermelon…

Mexican row crop season well underway

Bridges Produce looks forward to exhibiting at the upcoming 2023 IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show. The location of this year’s show in Anaheim, California is convenient to both its customer and grower base. Bridges was founded in Oregon and still has a strong foundation in the Western United States, so…

Biomass controls 95% of the Lebanese organic fresh produce

"We farm organically because we love it. Organic products taste better and we just know they’re much healthier." The Lebanese company Biomass accounts for as much as 95% of the local organic market while also exporting some specific products. Its Facebook page is clear about why it does not want to…

Tropical fruit supplier moves into organic limes

Goldenberry Farms® has announced a newly expanded line of organic items, including organic limes and organic coffee, to be on display at Fruit Attraction in Madrid. The focus…

Fairtrasa launches world's first 100% Regenerative Organic Certified® bananas

Fairtrasa unveils a breakthrough in sustainable agriculture at this year's Fruit Attraction. The company introduces bananas from the world’s first Regenerative Organic…

"We're very excited about the project that we started with organic mango for the European market"

The mango campaign has already begun in Ecuador, in a year in which the increase in the average temperature associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon has impacted fruit production in the countries of the Pacific region. "At the end of June, the night temperature in Ecuador usually stands at 19…

The Organic Center named as partner in four major USDA OREI research grants

The Organic Center is thrilled to announce it is the recipient of almost $900,000 in federal funds through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research…

Dole launches new organic division and consumer brand

Dole will launch both Dole Organics, a new specialist division and its new ‘GO Organic!’ consumer brand, at Fruit Attraction in Madrid. Dole Organics will be dedicated to bringing renewed impetus to the organic fresh produce category by promoting cross sector collaboration, consolidating supply, assuring…

BioAcademy training to support organic professionals

In 2012, ProNatura, an Organic Alliance company, decided to launch a training program for organic professionals, which became BioAcademy, with new themes, in 2016. The goal is to develop the organic sector by supporting department managers and sales advisors in their development.” After a period of…

California still has good organic grapes to ship

Organic grapes in California will see an early end to their season following this summer’s notable rainfalls. “We probably lost 30-40 percent of our grape crop that we had left to go. So for our supplies, we will be packing through October but we’re not sure how far into November we’ll go because of…