“Giorgio Fresh has been a certified organic grower for the past decade,” said Bill Litvin, vice president of sales and national account manager for Giorgio Fresh headquartered in Blandon, PA. “We received certification from the Pennsylvania Certified Organic on March 11, 2004. Giorgio is one of the largest growers of organic mushrooms in the country.”

Giorgio Fresh is a leading grower and shipper of a full-line of conventional and organic mushrooms. Litvin said the company proudly offers a wide range of organic products for consumers to choose from.

“A sample of the organic products that we offer includes white whole, white sliced, baby bella, portabella caps, sliced portabellas and shiitake mushrooms,” he noted.

The company produces its mushrooms at its farms in Berks County, PA. It grows its mushrooms in a fully organic substrate without artificial fertilizers.

Giorgio Fresh embracing the ‘Swap-It or Top-It’ Mushroom Council campaign and contest.“We are leading the way in Integrated Pest Management to limit the use of synthetic pesticides in our products,” Litvin added. “Giorgio does not bio-engineer mushrooms or use ionizing radiation. Our operations continue to pass stringent inspections ensuring that we meet U.S. Department of Agriculture organic standards.”

Giorgio Fresh services a wide range of customers; from retailers to wholesalers, and foodservice operations to industrial consumers. It distributes throughout the entire East Coast from Maine to Florida, and west to Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri. The company also has a joint shipping venture into Texas from Mexico.

Litvin explained that the Organic Trade Association has the online resource  — The Organic Pages — which provides users with a quick and easy way to find certified organic products, producers, ingredients, supplies and services. Because Giorgio Fresh is a member of the association, consumers are able to access information about its growing and shipping of fresh organic mushrooms and individually quick frozen mushrooms, commonly referred to as IQF.

Consumers can also link to the newly designed website, giorgiofresh.com, which was launched last year. From the website, visitors have access to a full list of the company’s organic product offerings and recipes.

“The new website provides recipes, product knowledge, company and industry information to both our consumers as well as current and prospective customers,” said Litvin. “In an attempt to provide additional information about our company and the industry to consumers, 2013 saw Giorgio Fresh officially expand into the social media world with new Giorgio Fresh Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram pages.”

Litvin stressed that the company worked very hard to craft its new vision, and it is the company’s goal to continue to present new ways to market mushrooms to the public.

“We hope that these new ventures will allow us to accomplish this goal,” Litvin added. “Readers can check out our new social media pages when they visit our website.”

Giorgio Fresh continues to keep a close eye on the major “blendability” trend in the mushroom industry. Both the USDA and The Mushroom Council have recognized the trend, and Giorgio Fresh has also taken note. Consumers that purchase mushrooms can find exciting ways to use these products through industry promotions like The Mushroom Council’s “Swap It or Top It” contest, which encourages consumers to embrace the blendability trend by blending meat with mushrooms in popular meals like burgers, meatloaf, tacos and more.

“The unique online contest, which began on June 1 and runs through August, builds excitement around mushroom use beyond just salads in the summer time, while educating consumers about the concept and benefits of swapability/blendability,” said Litvin. “The winner will be announced during National Mushroom Month in September.

“There is a $5,000 grand prize, but more details can be found by visiting www.SwapItOrTopIt.com,” he added. “Giorgio is proud to continue to participate and help promote this educational promotion campaign from The Mushroom Council.”