Albert’s Organics, headquartered in Santa Cruz, CA, is precisely what its name implies, a company that specializes only in organic foods, which it has since its founding in 1982. Today the company is a leading wholesale distributor with distribution facilities scattered throughout the United States. The company carries a full line of organic produce.

Simcha Weinstein, Albert’s Organics’ director of marketing, said that the top consumers of organic products are between the ages of 45 to 54.

“This is the largest consumer group in North America,” he said. “And many from this age group have been engaged in the organic and natural lifestyle since the 1960s and 1970s. Now, as their children come of age as young adults — or as it’s known, the millennial generation — there is both evidence and the expectation that organic and natural foods will continue to be a part of their diet as they mature.”

Weinstein added that this explosion of organic and natural food sales is extending far beyond what can be purchased at natural foods or specialty stores. The growing expectation among consumers, particularly of the millennial generation, is that these foods will be available at restaurants, colleges, convenience stores and just about everywhere that conventional food is sold.

“As a result we have seen that foodservice avenues for selling organic and natural foods have really opened up in the past few years and that college campuses especially are increasing their selection of organic and natural foods offerings,” said Weinstein.

Organic food is the foundation of Albert’s Organics’ business and always has been. The company has led the way in pioneering the distribution and availability of organic foods across the country. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, the firm handles organic dairy, meat and other food categories.

Albert’s Organics’ customers are independent, small and large chain retailers, wholesalers, distributors, foodservice operators and industrial operations. When the company first began in 1982, its primary customers were small natural foods stores, the only retail venue for purchasing organic fresh foods at the time.

“Over time the dynamic has changed and we have increased our customer base to insure that the breadth of our organic foods is available through as many outlets as possible,” said Weinstein. “All the while, we have still remained loyal and consistent to our smaller independent natural food retailers who have been with us from the very beginning.”

The good news for the organic industry, Weinstein said, is that sales continue to grow. And he concurs with others who believe that organic sales will increase exponentially as prices between organic and conventional move closer together. This is great news for foodservice operations that want to offer organic foods but stay within their budgets.