While conventional apple growers in the Pacific Northwest have enjoyed a good year due to good volumes and strong demand, organic apple growers have also done well. Short crops in eastern states have made for good demand and have led to higher prices, but a resurgent economy has also led to good sales of organics.“Prices have been good, though they've come down from the crazy peaks we saw earlier in the year,” said Addie Pobst of CF Fresh in Washington. “Demand was just crazy there for a while and prices spiked, and though they've come down, it's still a really strong market for us, though at sustainable prices.”
Volume of organics has kept pace with conventional apples, and that, combined with good quality, has led to the strong market position the Northwest's organic apple growers currently enjoy. Further contributing to this year's good fortune has been the way that consumers have responded to organic fruit coming out of the economic recession that hit the United States. While sales of organic apples didn't drop off during the last few years, Pobst noted that growth wasn't very strong.
“For a while there, we didn't grow,” she said. “People who are committed to organics are very committed, and they will continue to buy organic fruit. But for a while, it seemed like growth for the category slowed.” But now that fortunes have improved, she anticipates increasing interest in organic fruit.
“It feels like we've turned a corner and there's a renewed interest from consumers,” said Pobst. “We're making inroads into the broader culture and reaching out to more people and bringing them in.”
For more information:
Addie Pobst
CF Fresh
+1 360 855 0566