In mid-November as The Nunes Co., which is headquartered in Salinas, CA, was beginning to switch production from the Salinas Valley to the desert regions of California, as well as into Mexico, the company was also getting ready to introduce some new items to its organic product line.

The Nunes Co. sells most of its core vegetables in both conventional and organic packs, including iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, romaine, romaine hearts, green leaf, red leaf and green onions. (Photo courtesy of The Nunes Co.)Sales Manager Doug Classen said for the winter season red and green chard, curly and Italian parsley and several varieties of kale are being added to the organic lineup. The company already sells most of its core vegetables in both conventional and organic packs, including iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, romaine, romaine hearts, green leaf, red leaf and green onions.

He said sales are being made both to foodservice and retail customers, with the retail customers being a mix of the company’s long standing conventional produce customers, as well as new retailers that operate in the organic space. “We are seeing growth in both areas,” he said.

The company has been marketing its organic line under the “Foxy Organic” label and is adding an additional label this winter called “Sonora Sun.”

While all of The Nunes Co. sales people do handle sales for all items, the firm organizes its sales by department and commodity, and it does have two members of the sales team specializing in organic produce: Jesse Gomez and Kevin Crossgrove.

Mr. Gomez was added to the sales team in 2009 to upgrade the organic produce program. Mr. Crossgrove was added to the organic sales team earlier this year because of the growth of the category.

For 2013, the firm is making a special effort to promote its organic line through an exclusive sponsorship agreement with public television’s number one cooking show, America’s Test Kitchen. As a sponsor, Foxy brand organic vegetables will be woven into a variety of consumer based marketing components with America’s Test Kitchen, reaching millions of home-cooking enthusiasts across the nation.

“We are very excited to be a part of the 2013 ATK season and the various partnership programs we will be executing throughout the year. Across various media platforms, ATK reaches the active, informed cooking enthusiast who values the quality and authentic nature of food,” said Matt Seeley, vice president of marketing for The Nunes Co. “The sponsorship partnership with ATK reinforces and strengthens our reputation for premium quality fresh produce, while increasing Foxy brand awareness among culinary enthusiasts. Partnering with ATK allows us to target the affluent, environmentally and health conscious consumer in an uncluttered broadcast environment.”