Bruce Klein, director of marketing for Maurice A. Auerbach Inc., located in South Hackensack, NJ, told The Produce News that the company’s accounts, especially the more upscale retailers, are remaining strongly committed to organics.

“In general, consumers are looking for certain organic items,” he said. “If organic prices stay close to that of conventional, and the product looks as good as conventional on grocers’ shelves, the organic line will continue to grow.”

A long history in the organic arena continues to give CF Fresh a competitive edge. Addie Pobst, the company’s import coordinator and food safety officer, said the company has evolved and grown to meet today’s marketplace demand.

Ronni Blumenthal, vice president of administration for Global Organic Specialty Source in Sarasota, FL, told The Produce News that stone fruit season is starting for the company.

“We are excited about pluots,” said Ms. Blumenthal. “We will also have the last of the Florida crops available, which include wonderful crimson watermelons and burgundy okra. And our close relationship with two Chilean growers provides us with a strong apple and squash program that is currently in place.”

Wholesale distributor Albert’s Organics, headquartered in Santa Cruz, CA, is a full-service organic produce wholesale distributor that carries a complete line of organic fresh produce.

“Currently we are promoting organic blueberries from Chile and organic mangoes from Peru,” Simcha Weinstein, director of marketing, told The Produce News. “Of course we are also promoting winter time citrus, but then we often will work on getting our customers excited about the non-seasonal items that come from the southlands and offer a bit of a taste of summer during the cold winter season.”

John Harley, sales manager for Anthony Vineyards Inc. in Bakersfield, CA, told The Produce News that as increasing numbers of retailers learn about the company’s consistent organic supplies, more are embracing having seasonal California grapes.

Mr. Harley added that this opportunity was not available as recently as just five years ago, and is what “brought [Anthony Vineyards] to the organic table,” he said, adding that “no other company is positioned to do this.”

Marc Marchini, sales coordinator for J. Marchini Farms in Le Grand, CA, said that the weather has been colder than normal this year, and it is taking a toll on just about every crop in the state.

“Tomatoes, such as our Marzano tomatoes, can go into a dormancy state if the weather stays too cold, but fortunately that hasn’t happened,” Mr. Marchini said. “But it will delay all crops, including tree fruit, row crops in the state, and our organic figs.”