Uncle Matt's expands organic citrus groves and family of growers in Florida
Uncle Matt's expands organic citrus groves and family of growers in Florida
According to Matt McLean, founder and chief executive officer of Uncle Matt's Fresh, the organic produce arm of Uncle Matt's Organic, the number of organic citrus growers and the amount of acreage dedicated to organic citrus that the company manages are rising at a steady and healthy pace.
"We currently manage over 1,000 acres of citrus groves that include 15 different family-owned farms," Mr. McLean said in a press release. "This number is expanding every day as we help conventional groves transition to organic."
As a vertically integrated grower, manager and marketer of organic citrus, Uncle Matt's Fresh provides management of these small family growers by putting together an organic farm plan, executing the plan to increase nutrient density, developing biodiversity, building healthy soils, and selling the fruit for the benefit of the families who own the groves. "Our growers have anywhere from as small as three acres to as large as 100-acre groves," Mr. McLean added in the release. "Just this spring, we had an additional 100 acres of Valencia oranges transition to organic." The process of going from conventional to organic takes three years to complete.
"We are currently growing organic oranges, tangerines and grapefruit for our own juice brand, 'Uncle Matt's Organic,' along with providing organic fresh citrus for Uncle Matt's Fresh," he added. Of the 1,000 acres that Uncle Matt's Fresh manages, a majority goes to juice production and the remainder goes to fresh fruit sales. It is estimated that less than 1 percent of all citrus in Florida is organic, a number that Mr. McLean would like to see grow significantly over the next few years.
Uncle Matt's Fresh includes not only Mr. McLean, a fourth-generation citrus farmer and the current vice president of the Organic Trade Association, but also his brother Ben, his brother-in-law Alex Howell, and his father, Benny. "It's a family affair all the way down the line," Mr. McLean said in the release. "My mother and wife also contribute to the business. Citrus is our passion."
Uncle Matt's Fresh offers premium-quality organic citrus, while Uncle Matt's Organic offers premium-quality organic juices. The companies' products have no synthetic additives or preservatives. To further assure high quality standards, the juice is certified kosher and pareve by Orthodox Union, and produce and finished products are produced under the strict regulation and guidelines of Quality Certification Services. The company is an active member of the OTA and supports the Organic Farming Research Foundation.
"We currently manage over 1,000 acres of citrus groves that include 15 different family-owned farms," Mr. McLean said in a press release. "This number is expanding every day as we help conventional groves transition to organic."
As a vertically integrated grower, manager and marketer of organic citrus, Uncle Matt's Fresh provides management of these small family growers by putting together an organic farm plan, executing the plan to increase nutrient density, developing biodiversity, building healthy soils, and selling the fruit for the benefit of the families who own the groves. "Our growers have anywhere from as small as three acres to as large as 100-acre groves," Mr. McLean added in the release. "Just this spring, we had an additional 100 acres of Valencia oranges transition to organic." The process of going from conventional to organic takes three years to complete.
"We are currently growing organic oranges, tangerines and grapefruit for our own juice brand, 'Uncle Matt's Organic,' along with providing organic fresh citrus for Uncle Matt's Fresh," he added. Of the 1,000 acres that Uncle Matt's Fresh manages, a majority goes to juice production and the remainder goes to fresh fruit sales. It is estimated that less than 1 percent of all citrus in Florida is organic, a number that Mr. McLean would like to see grow significantly over the next few years.
Uncle Matt's Fresh includes not only Mr. McLean, a fourth-generation citrus farmer and the current vice president of the Organic Trade Association, but also his brother Ben, his brother-in-law Alex Howell, and his father, Benny. "It's a family affair all the way down the line," Mr. McLean said in the release. "My mother and wife also contribute to the business. Citrus is our passion."
Uncle Matt's Fresh offers premium-quality organic citrus, while Uncle Matt's Organic offers premium-quality organic juices. The companies' products have no synthetic additives or preservatives. To further assure high quality standards, the juice is certified kosher and pareve by Orthodox Union, and produce and finished products are produced under the strict regulation and guidelines of Quality Certification Services. The company is an active member of the OTA and supports the Organic Farming Research Foundation.
