L&M and Broetje partner for apple and cherry sales
L&M and Broetje partner for apple and cherry sales
Keith Matthews, director of grower development for L&M Cos.' Selah, WA, office, said that a marketing agreement executed with Broetje Orchards will bring a substantial volume of apples and cherries to the market this year.
Broetje Orchards, which markets under the "FirstFruits" label, is one of the world's larger privately owned orchards with a total of 5,000 acres of conventional production in Prescott, WA. The operation also recently transitioned an additional 550 acres of orchards in Wallula, WA, to certified organic production.
"Broetje is focused on truly the most attractive apple lines," Mr. Matthews said in early April. Varieties include Pink Lady, Pinova, Sundowner and Honeycrisp.
The Wallula location was ideal for organic production, Mr. Matthews said, adding, "Apple growers are isolated along the river and don't get inundated with pest problems."
L&M markets organic apples throughout the United States and into Europe.
"There's exciting news from the organic chains," he said of sales. In addition, "A conventional chain [in the United States] is seriously looking at organics."
Mr. Matthews said, "Fruit is cleaning up quite rapidly. National conventional stores are dabbling in organics."
He indicated that there are only 3 million boxes of organic apples and 40 loads of conventional apples remaining for the year. Mr. Matthews said that L&M will market approximately 300,000 boxes of organic apples and 5.5 million boxes of conventional apples for Broetje. A total of 400,000 boxes of organic cherries and 500,000 boxes of conventional cherries will be moved through L& M's network of 16 growers.
In addition to these commodities, L&M is looking to move 200,000 cases of organic potatoes from Moses Lake, WA, and 2 million boxes of organic onions from Nyssa, OR, and Parma, ID. "We're carefully selecting the right grower partners for organics," Mr. Matthews told The Produce News. L&M has strong organic ties in the Pacific Northwest and continues to develop markets in the East.
The company will be on hand to pass out literature at the United Produce Show May 6-9 in Chicago.
Broetje Orchards, which markets under the "FirstFruits" label, is one of the world's larger privately owned orchards with a total of 5,000 acres of conventional production in Prescott, WA. The operation also recently transitioned an additional 550 acres of orchards in Wallula, WA, to certified organic production.
"Broetje is focused on truly the most attractive apple lines," Mr. Matthews said in early April. Varieties include Pink Lady, Pinova, Sundowner and Honeycrisp.
The Wallula location was ideal for organic production, Mr. Matthews said, adding, "Apple growers are isolated along the river and don't get inundated with pest problems."
L&M markets organic apples throughout the United States and into Europe.
"There's exciting news from the organic chains," he said of sales. In addition, "A conventional chain [in the United States] is seriously looking at organics."
Mr. Matthews said, "Fruit is cleaning up quite rapidly. National conventional stores are dabbling in organics."
He indicated that there are only 3 million boxes of organic apples and 40 loads of conventional apples remaining for the year. Mr. Matthews said that L&M will market approximately 300,000 boxes of organic apples and 5.5 million boxes of conventional apples for Broetje. A total of 400,000 boxes of organic cherries and 500,000 boxes of conventional cherries will be moved through L& M's network of 16 growers.
In addition to these commodities, L&M is looking to move 200,000 cases of organic potatoes from Moses Lake, WA, and 2 million boxes of organic onions from Nyssa, OR, and Parma, ID. "We're carefully selecting the right grower partners for organics," Mr. Matthews told The Produce News. L&M has strong organic ties in the Pacific Northwest and continues to develop markets in the East.
The company will be on hand to pass out literature at the United Produce Show May 6-9 in Chicago.
