Neil Millman, chief executive officer for I Love Produce in Kelton, PA, told The Produce News that the company is very excited about the remainder of 2011.

“The market for our organic products continues to grow and our company is also growing,” said Mr. Millman. “The organic fresh ginger deal out of Peru is increasing, and we’re now just switching into the new crop. The quality, price and shelf life of this product is a big unqualified winner. Also, we have ginger from other growing areas in the United States as well as from other countries.”

The new crop of direct-seeded organic sweet yellow onions and conventional sweet yellows from Sweet Clover Produce in Walla Walla, WA, will start shipping mid-July, according to Bill (Sweet Willie) Brownfield, Sweet Clover sales manager.

Mr. Brownfield said this year’s organic acreage has been doubled, and the operation’s growers, Grotz Bros. and Mercer Farms, are anticipating both excellent quality and excellent supplies.

“Tell people those organics are growing well, and it looks like a very good year,” Mr. Brownfield said in early June.

Joe Sbrocchi, vice president of sales and marketing of Mastronardi Produce Ltd. In Kingsville, ON, said that the company began working with organics just after the turn of the new millennium.

“It was a big decision for us as a company and for our growers to move their production to organics with one item in early 2000s,” said Mr. Sbrocchi. “Obviously for greenhouses the move to organics is different than that for a field grower. Originally there was some question as to whether greenhouse-grown organics would be accepted. Time has proven that they are.”

A decision by Stemilt Growers Inc., based in Wenatchee, WA, to bolster its organic offerings continues to be validated by ongoing market research, according to the company. “Since 2006, organic has grown at 94.6 percent,” said Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl. “I think that’s pretty amazing.”

Stemilt began its major push into the organic sector in 1989. “Eleven years ago, organic apples were limited by variety,” Mr. Pepperl told The Produce News May 25. Since then, newer plantings include varietals that have gained in popularity over the past decade.

Santa Cruz Berry Farming Co. in Watsonville, CA, was started in February of this year, but its owner, Fritz Koontz, has been farming on his own farms for 16 years and involved in growing for almost 30 years.

“I’ve been in organic production for about 11 years,” said Mr. Koontz. “Prior to starting Santa Cruz Berry Farming I was in partnership with another company that sold berries. I decided to start my own shipping, packing and marketing company. The response from customers has been very good, and things are going well.”

Intergrow Greenhouses Inc. is in the final stages of an 18-acre expansion to its existing 30 acres of greenhouse located in Albion, NY. The expansion started in late 2010 and will be complete with first fall-winter crop planting in September.