Harvesting Wisdom: Margin, Waste and the Art of Produce
Managing a profitable produce department is no easy feat. It’s not just displaying beautiful fruits and veggies and watching them sell. Produce work moves fast. Things change by the hour, and the pace means mistakes large and small happen. The key to success? Carefully managing margin so sales make up for inevitable waste—but that’s a whole lot easier said than done.
Rhubarb Toolkit
Organic rhubarb thrives in the cool, wet conditions of the Pacific Northwest, which makes this region a natural home for some of the best-looking (and best-tasting) rhubarb around. These bright pink stems develop their signature tang in rich floodplain soils shaped by the Missoula floods thousands of years ago.
Come for the fresh seafood, stay for the zingy salads at Pal's
Take a Trip to Hayden Island for Seafood and a Side of Picturesque Views
Start Spring Off Right
Hit the refresh button with new merchandising, revived promo strategies and a lineup of specialty items that show off the full glory and bounty of the season. Go ahead, have a spring fling with fresh finds from Northwest growers and beyond.
Organically Grown Company (OGC) Introduces Plastic-Free Net Bags
Can fruits and veggies finally ditch the plastic net bag? Organically Grown Company (OGC) is piloting a sustainable breakthrough: plastic-free mesh bags made from beechwood fibers.
Organically Grown Company wins award, gains traction with its plastic-free net bags
Learn about this innovation in produce—recyclable, compostable bags made from cellulosic yarn derived from beechwood trees grown in FSC-certified forests.
Raab-O-Rama
This time of year, lots of folks get excited about spring flowers like tulips and daffodils. But those that love seasonal eating would likely rather receive a bouquet of tasty raab, especially because it’s only available for a brief window each spring.
Import Pear Toolkit
It may be springtime in our neck of the woods, but folks in Argentina are getting ready for fall, and that means it’s time for exceptional import pears. OGC sources organic pears from Argentina during months when the Northwest options have dwindled, and the California crop is still months away.
How OGC Mission Fund Recipient Ecotrust Brings People Together to Solve Tough Problems
This year, Ecotrust is celebrating 35 years of working at the intersection of equity, economy and the environment. Their work aims to make an impact across the region, from southeast Alaska down to Northern California. Ecotrust’s projects bring frontline communities, who have deep knowledge of the issues, together with the organizations working to address them. Like Organically Grown Company, Ecotrust focuses on strengthening the regional food system, bolstering environmental stewardship and investing in community.
‘Quat Spot
With citrus season in full swing, kumquats are available in volume to bring zesty flavor to dishes, drinks and snack time. Mandarinquats and Centennial, Meiwa and Nagami kumquats are all small, bright orange fruits that can be eaten whole. The aromatic peel is the sweetest part, and its flavor helps offset the tartness of the juice inside.
Cheers to 30 years, Scott Kirkpatrick!
Scott’s 30-year OGC-iversary is this month! In 1995, Scott was working in the produce department at Eugene’s The Kiva Grocery and OGC co-founder Tom Lively was his Account Rep. When Tom let him know there was an opening at the Eugene warehouse, Scott applied. “I used to deliver to Scott K at the Kiva. He’s kept us laughing ever since he joined OGC 30 years ago!” says Brian Keogh, OGC Buyer. After starting in the warehouse, he was a driver for many years before settling into his current role as an Account Representative working with OGC customers in Eugene, Southern Oregon, the Oregon Coast and more.
Citrus Smarts Video Series
Harvest is in full swing and OGC is thrilled to be the Pacific Northwest's best source for all that zesty goodness. Check out our brand-new video series “Citrus Smarts” for all things citrus this season!
OGC is a 2026 Natural Products Expo West NEXTY Award Winner!
Organically Grown Company's Ladybug Brand® Zero-Plastic Net Bag won a NEXTY Award in the Packaged Produce category!
Purple Sprouting Broccoli marks the shift to spring
Unlike the green broccoli we know (and some of us love), purple sprouting broccoli looks a little like a carnival crop, producing a smaller, flattish main head and numerous side shoots. The cold temperature brings out the sweetness and the side shoots are particularly tender. Think of it as green broccoli’s younger, flashier sibling.
Build a Produce Pot o’ Gold
Eaters celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with some important produce items, and the gold and rainbows of the holiday create fun merchandising opportunities.
Ladybug Brand Purple Sprouting Broccoli Toolkit
The darling of colorful crucifers, Purple Sprouting broccoli (PSB), is getting ready to make its spring-time debut! Use this collection of resources to help educate your staff and shoppers.
Organic Yellow Pitaya Dragon Fruit Toolkit
Inside the vibrant yellow skin of the sunny Yellow Pitaya dragon fruit is juicy, white flesh studded with small, edible seeds. Its texture is like a cross of a kiwi and a pear with a sweet and mild, lightly floral flavor.
U.S. Food Waste Pact Report Shows Less Food Being Wasted In Retail and Foodservice Sectors
A new report from the U.S. Food Waste Pact (Pact), a collaborative initiative of 30 food businesses across the country led by nonprofits ReFED and World Wildlife Fund, shows reductions in the amount of food being wasted nationwide by grocery retail and foodservice companies in 2024 compared to 2023. The results are good news for the food system, as it tries to address its 60-million-ton food waste problem.
Kolo Kai Organic Farm Raises Remarkable Rhizomes
The freshest and juiciest of these roots come exclusively to OGC from Kolo Kai Organic Farm on the North Shore of Kauai and have become a cult favorite at grocery stores and juice bars up and down the West Coast.