Los Angeles-based Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been distributing and marketing organics for over 30 years, and many of its growing partners have been growing organics for just as long. With consumers demanding more variety in organics, the company has been able to provide its retail, wholesale and foodservice clients with a solution.Kiwano, also known as horned melon, from Frieda’s Specialty Produce.

Account Manager, Alex Jackson, heads up Frieda’s organics’ program. She is also the granddaughter of company founder, Dr. Frieda Caplan, and daughter of Karen Caplan, president and chief executive officer.

“Our organics include a variety of tropical fruits, specialty citrus, heirloom apples, specialty sweet potatoes, variety squash, Asian vegetables and complementary items,” said Jackson. “The availability tends to mirror that of the conventional season.

“The category with the biggest opportunity for growth is the tropicals, and we are seeing that growth happen season after season,” she continued. “In that category the demand for items like cherimoya, passion fruit, feijoa, kiwano, young coconut and gold kiwifruit is growing the most, so we work closely with our growers around the world to establish a planting and sales plan around their organic capabilities.”

Frieda’s, she added, has a lot of exciting things being introduced toward the end of 2015, and its organic line will be a part of that excitement.

“In the meantime, we are adding new items monthly to our organic line as consumers and our clients are asking for something new every week,” noted Jackson.

The company, she added, has also seen an increase in interest in its organic ginger, organic young coconut, organic citrus and our organic sweet potatoes.

“This mirrors the trends in the conventional categories of these items,” said Jackson. “With food media talking to consumers more about these items, the nutritional benefits and the new varieties available, we’ve been able to be the solution for our retailers, wholesalers and foodservice operators in both the conventional and organic categories for these products.”

She pointed out that a trending and growing item becomes popular to all consumers, including those who buy 100 percent organic.