Nunes died Aug. 5 in Carmel Valley, California. His farming career stretched to more than 70 years.

Conventional and organic Foxy-branded produce is grown on more than 20,000 acres. Third and fourth generation Nunes family members run the company.

The Nunes Co. markets its vegetables and strawberries under the Foxy brand. Nunes’ farming career stretched to more than seven decades.

“Tom began his farming career over 70 years ago in the Salinas Valley and is known for his leadership and innovation in the produce industry,” family members said in a company news release.

In the early 1930s. Tom Nunes Sr. planted the family’s first seeds in California’s Salinas Valley. The Foxy brand was born when second-generation brothers Bob and Tom Nunes formed the Nunes Company in 1976.

Born into a farming family of Portuguese immigrants in Chualar, California, from a young age Nunes helped his father riding tractor and worked with him in the field. From those humble beginnings, Nunes started two successful grower-shippers and garnered produce industry awards and honors.

Despite the honors, Nunes would have said his greatest achievement and pleasure came from his family, including his three sons, daughter, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, according to a news release.

Nunes graduated from high school in 1946 and attended Stanford University, graduating with an economics degree. He married soon after graduation.

In 1955, after farming for several years with his father under the mantel of T. Nunes & Son, a friend, Bill “Chopper” Brown, suggested Nunes start a new company growing, harvesting, and shipping Iceberg lettuce. Nunes and each of five other partners invested $5,000 and grew 400 acres of Iceberg lettuce for their new company, Growers Exchange.

At Growers Exchange, Tom and his brother Bob Nunes began their life-long partnership, working six years together at Growers Exchange. In 1966, they left to form Nunes Bros. of California, an integrated grower-shipper of fresh vegetables.

The Salinas Valley Produce Industry recognized Tom’s leadership at Nunes Bros. by electing him to the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California’s board of directors, where was chairman 1967-1968.

After selling the brothers’ company to the United Fruit Co. (Chiquita), the two left the industry, but after no-compete contracts returned five years later to start The Nunes Company, in 1976.

Eventually the Company became an integrated grower-shipper which included shipping, cooling, growing, and harvesting operations.

“We had a great advantage of building a company and then selling it and getting to start over,” Tom once said. “It allowed us to look at what we did right and look at what we did wrong and build a better company.”

The company is run by the brothers’ sons, Tom (T4) in sales, David in growing and land base, Jimmy in farming, and Bob, Jr., Bob’s son, in cooling and harvesting. Tom M. Nunes (T5) is also involved. They have been instrumental in growing the company from a modest 1,200 acres to more than 20,000 acres in California, Arizona, and Nevada, according to the release.

The company’s Foxy brand has become recognized globally. Value-added operations, organic production and strawberries extended the reach of the brand in the ensuing years.

In 2018, Tom M. Nunes (T5), representing the third generation of the Nunes family, became president and carries on the traditions and culture created by Tom (T3) and maintained by his father, Tom (T4).

“One of the last things my grandfather said was ‘trust’ was the key to life,” Tom M. Nunes (T5) said in the release. “Grandpa lived that, and you can see it in the loyalty of employees returning to The Nunes Co. after the five-year hiatus, the growers’ willingness to accept a structure built on trust in the company, the many long-term employees, and the customers who trusted that the right high-quality product would be there every time. Our family lost our pillar, and the industry lost an important and influential leader.”

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In addition to the redesign of Red Tomato’s EcoCertified fruit totes and pouches, Red Tomato broadened the scope of the certification to include a variety of fruits and value-added agricultural products, providing a more cohesive and impactful brand for consumers and growers, according to a news release.

The redesigned packaging is timed for the 2024 apple season and includes paper totes, pouches, poly bags, and master cases. “The rebrand will help consumers choose EcoCertified fruit, which means they are investing in local and sustainable growing practices. EcoCertified is a promise of amazing fruit that is both local and ecologically grown,” according to the release.

EcoCertified is designed to be a grower brand, an integral part of their marketing stories, and to build a stronger, more recognizable certification that stands for sustainable, ecologically responsible farming practices.

The updated packaging will be available in stores making it easier for consumers to identify and purchase EcoCertified products. Insights from consumer research indicate a strong preference for clear, concise labeling that highlights the product’s sustainable attributes.

The most ecological farming practices differ by locale. More than 93% of U.S. certified organic apples are grown in eastern Washington. The climate in the Eastern U.S. is more rain, diseases and insects. The national organic standards do not offer viable treatments for eastern orchards
growing at a wholesale scale, according to the release.

“EcoCertified orchards are a powerful, resilient force in our region’s food system, combining the most ecological growing practices with the best of local foods,” said Angel Mendez, Red Tomato’s executive director, said in the release.

Red Tomato partnered with the Hartman Group, a marketing research firm specializing in the natural and organic grocery industry.

Keywords such as “sustainable growing practices,” “protect pollinators,” “promote tree and soil health,” and “growers care for the land, community, and earth” were instrumental in the design process. The packaging highlights the taste, ecological practices, and local sourcing that define EcoCertified. The front of the pouch proudly states, “Happy Bees. Healthy Trees. Amazing Apples.” while the back emphasizes the rigorous ecological practices that protect bees, ensure thriving orchards, and balance vital ecosystems, according to the release.

“It’s very hard for farmers to grow apples this way,” Diane Rast, Hartman’s creative director, said in the release. “I visit the farms. I have been designing for years and I know the challenge of communicating a complex idea dealing with sustainable growing practices with just a few words and a choice illustration.”

The EcoCertified program was launched in 2005, as a partnership of non-profit Red Tomato, the IPM Institute of North America and a network of farmers, scientists and fruit experts, to advance environmentally responsible growing practices for locally grown tree fruit in the Northeast.

The program’s goal is to support growers by bringing together the local and ecological growing practices, educating the public about their value, and building a market that keeps local orchards thriving and local apples abundant.

The program has certified more than 30 Northeast orchards, representing more than 2,000 acres. EcoCertified is actively expanding to new regional chapters east of the Rockies, with a focus on the Midwest (Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois), Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

Based in Rhode Island, Red Tomato works with partners throughout the U.S., including scientists and farmer networks, regional and national grocery stores, K-12 schools, community-based nonprofits, and other vendors. In addition to apples, Red Tomato also works with tomatoes and other vegetables.

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The marketers of the SweeTango apple variety are forecasting this year’s harvest to bring a fifth more production.

In a crowded apple market, it’s now retailers’ chance to impress shoppers with the most exciting apple — the trademarked SweeTango variety, according to a news release from the Next Big Thing, an Emmas, Pennsylvania, growers’ cooperative that promotes the variety.

“This harvest, growers forecast a longer season, with 20% more apples compared to prior years,” according to the release. “Growers also report apples will be bigger, juicier, and better in bulk, but whether supplying in bags or stacking them on the shelves, they’ll have a selection for any retailer’s needs.”

Stemilt Growers’ Brianna Shales is optimistic about the harvest.

“We’re harvesting and packing SweeTango apples in Washington State, and excited about the volume and quality we are seeing so far in the new crop,” Shales said in the release. “SweeTango consistently ranks in the top 10 apple varieties in October, which is one of the biggest apple promotion months each year. With increased volumes of SweeTango, we can delight SweeTango fans even longer with additional promotions and activity at the point of sale into the winter months that will highlight its fantastic crunch and honey-sweet flavor.”

SweeTango apples are available conventionally and organic.

One is never enough. SweeTango’s “superfan” base can’t resist the sweet, citrusy, and honey-spiced flavor, plus the apple’s award-winning crunch. Whether eaten fresh and whole, sliced and spread with almond butter, or to elevate a charcuterie plate, SweeTango meets any occasion. Dedicated shoppers have affirmed the apple as a proven winner for retailers, and will be rushing for more this season, according to the release.

“SweeTango is an apple that sells itself,” Shelby Miller of Applewood Fresh said in the release. “It hits all 5 senses, from premium taste to strong shelf appeal, it is that consistency consumers look forward to year after year.”

Kaari Stannard of New York’s Yes! Apples shares her insight.

“Especially now that school’s back in session, SweeTangos are in high demand as the perfect snack for kid’s lunches,” Stannard said in the release. “Parents always come back for more because their kids actually finish them. Everyone will be filling their carts with crisp, sweet, and zesty, so stock up to keep customers smiling.”

According to growers, they will start shipping from across the country shortly after Labor Day. There’s no better time to supply shoppers with their favorite — in tandem with the brand’s coordinated, coast-to-coast marketing and sales support, according to the release.

SweeTango’s top priority is to reach new consumers with in-store activations.

“Our season is starting earlier and sticking around longer, and we’ve been growing to match that demand. We are here to help retail create excitement around SweeTango to drive sales and build customer loyalty,” Brian Coates, Applewood Fresh’s vice president, said in the release.

To alert long-time fans that SweeTangos are back in the market, while also creating awareness among new fans, the brand invests in digital video advertisements geo-targeted to SweeTango retailers’ markets. A store locator on the brand’s website, SweeTango.com, helps consumers find SweeTango retailers near them.

SweeTango boasts a strong social media presence across platforms, which the brand uses to activate its loyal fanbase. Efforts are aligned to activate a wider range audience, including Millennial and Gen Z consumers who love consistent and exceptional apples, and are known to remain dedicated to brands they believe in, according to the release.

“We’re excited about our new packaging design that will absolutely engage shoppers. Our range of package options meets any of your store’s needs for both conventional and organic apples,” Jen Miller, Next Big Thing’s executive director, said in the release

“Even more exciting, we’ll be launching a new packaging-focused social campaign this season to promote engagement with our brand in stores, making sure that all SweeTango fans stay in-the-know about where to find and buy their favorite apple. That means your stores can anticipate more demand than ever.”

The Next Big Thing’s 50 family growers grow the variety in five time zones from Nova Scotia to Washington state. The co-op licenses, grows and markets premium and managed varieties of apples, beginning with SweeTango.

— Top photo courtesy of KC Bailey

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TOPP uses a variety of methods, including mentorship, workshops, webinars, technical assistance and field days, to help growers new to the organic fold learn how to satisfy the requirements in the three-year transition process from conventional farming to producing organic crops.

Once organic certification is granted, however, the need for assistance in organic growing practices and navigating the new organic marketplace continues, which is why the USDA chose to set a five-year timeline for TOPP.

“We wanted to make sure that the program supported not just the full three-year transition, but then time after growers have transitioned as well, just knowing that there are continued challenges and opportunities and need for information that growers and producers face once they have transitioned to organic,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.

TOPP, which began in October 2022, is part of the USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative, introduced in the summer of 2021. Meeting with organic industry segments, Moffitt said it was clear there was a need for comprehensive support for growers in answering numerous questions.

“Mentorships are really key,” Moffitt said. “The farmer-to-farmer information sharing across agriculture, whether it is organic or not organic, I think is really critical as well.”

There are 180 TOPP partners across the six U.S. regions, ranging from university Extension specialists, nonprofit agencies, farmer organizations and others. In TOPP’s first year, the partners worked with 11,000 farmers and ranchers at 165 events across the U.S., according to the USDA.

One of those partners, Farmshare Austin in Texas, has a five-month intensive training program called Farmer Starter. Graduates can establish a business by growing organic vegetables through Farmshare’s one-year farm incubator program, Cultivator.

The organization’s outreach focuses on the practical production and record-keeping skills needed to comply with the National Organic Program.

“Many of the growers we work with are already motivated to use organic growing practices in order to care for the ecosystem, but many are not sure about going the extra step of getting and maintaining certification,” said Michelle Akindiya, Farmshare Austin’s education and operations director.

A major concern from growers considering organic production, she said, is that recordkeeping requirements are too difficult.

“We make the argument that the kinds of records one needs to keep for compliance are the same that one needs to keep to run a profitable farm — that tracking production inputs and outputs and using that data to make decisions can make you a better farmer,” Akindiya said. “And we show them how to do it efficiently as a part of their day-to-day activities.”

TOPP provides an ability to educate not just producers, but the next generation of inspectors and others necessary to keep the National Organic Program running.

USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack “talks a lot about workforce development, and we really do aim to integrate that into a lot of things we’re doing,” Moffitt said.

Moffitt said TOPP activities are available to any grower considering the organic segment, but a focus is on smaller growers who don’t have access to the same resources larger operations might possess. That includes underserved producers, such as those whose primary language isn’t English.

Online resources

The USDA’s TOPP website, organictransition.org, allows new growers to seek mentors, and vice versa. Dozens of events are searchable by region. Online resources for pest, disease and weed management, farm business management, organic processing and handling, soil and nutrient management and other topics are available.

The six regions tailor their own programs for what benefits growers in each area.

“There’s a key framework, but absolutely locally led solutions,” Moffitt said. “What is needed in the Northwest is going to be very different than what is needed in the Southeast, which will be very different than what’s needed … across the Plains.”

— Chris Koger, contributing writer

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With origins as a marketing cooperative for strawberries, Naturipe has since transformed into a vertically integrated company owned by four distinct growing organizations. Its extensive network of growers cultivates blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries and even avocados. 

Today, Naturipe is a large producer of organic blueberries, with year-round production sourced from prime growing regions in California, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Washington, Peru, Chile and Mexico. 

Earth-first philosophy 

Being organic is one part of the company’s strong commitment to the environment and sustainability.  “Naturipe growers use many practices to minimize their environmental footprints,” said Janis McIntosh, director of marketing innovation and sustainability for Naturipe Farms. “From good soil management to state-of-the-art technology, if it makes sense, they will implement it.” 

On the farm, sustainability practices include water management, integrated pest management (IPM), composting, mulching and the use of drones and other innovative tools.

“In addition, over one-quarter of our production is now packed and cooled with renewable energy,” McIntosh said. “New installations in New Jersey, California and Chile partially contribute to Naturipe lowering its carbon emissions by 100,000 metric tons.”

Pollinator health is another area in which Naturipe’s growers are highly focused. In fact, over the last few years, the growers have installed more than 1,000 acres of habitats throughout North and South America.

“Our pruning, composting and chop-and-drop techniques increase soil microbial diversity and improve carbon storage and water retention,” McIntosh said. “Our diversified pollinator habitat programs support our pollinator- reliant crops and the local ecosystem.”

Regenerative agriculture

Several of Naturipe’s crops, including avocados, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, are no-till crops with live-root systems year-round.

“Cover crops are planted to add additional nutrients and organic matter, such as bacteria, fungi, and several other microorganisms, which are crucial to the health and fertility of the soil,” McIntosh said. 

The regenerative practices add to the longevity of the crops.

“For over one hundred years, our family farms have utilized state-of-the- art practices that have allowed them to farm the same land for generations, providing fresh delicious berries to the local markets,” McIntosh said. “Benefits of regenerative practices include soil health, increased pollinator population, reduced water use, composting and dependence on conventional energy.”

Tech talk

Over the decades, Naturipe has continued to add new technology to the farms to enhance water conservation and soil health, contributing to sustainability and resource efficiency. 

“Our growers use precise metered drip irrigation, tiling and mulch systems to reduce their water footprint,” McIntosh said. “Tunnels can be used to extend growing seasons and improve plant and soil quality. Also, we have stringent IPM protocols, including biological, cultural and mechanical controls such as pest vacuums and netting.”

For more than 40 years, all growers have used drip irrigation systems to deliver water and nutrients directly to the root zone, but this has only become more advanced.

“Today, we utilize laser-level technology to optimize the delivery of vital nutrients, creating a more homogenous, even crop,” McIntosh said. “In addition, drones deliver predatory mites based on pest pressure and satellite imagery. Camera technology with AI can enhance our field management, including worker movement minimization. And our grower partner has developed Smartberry, a digital data recording, reporting and visualization platform.”

Ensuring food safety

Naturipe has the protocols in place to ensure the highest standards of food safety across its supply chain. 

For instance, all of its farms are audited annually by a third-party certifying body to a GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) benchmarked standard. Additionally, they all either have Global GAP or Primus GFS food safety audits.

“All growers have food safety personnel on-site trained in the latest food safety regulations and procedures, the produce rule or preventive controls training,” McIntosh said. “They also have robust IPM and GAP, a good agricultural practices program that guides all daily practices and ensures the best and safest berries are produced and sold. All fields are inspected just before harvest to ensure no contamination has occurred.”

All data is recorded into the company’s SAP platform so it can trace back and forth any product shipped.

“This system quickly allows us to find any of our products in minutes,” McIntosh said. “We also use an asset-based carrier that tracks the temperature and location of our product in real time to ensure there is no break in the cold chain until it reaches our customers. All products and trucks prior to loading undergo quality checks and inspections.”

Reducing carbon footprint

Since 2020, Naturipe’s growers have made significant investments in solar energy as they continue to look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

“In 2023, our grower in Chile celebrated the installation of the largest floating solar plant in South America,” McIntosh said. “Also last year, our flagship cooler in Watsonville, California installed rooftop and solar parking canopies to power their operation. In 2024, we are celebrating the installation of six acres of solar panels in Delano, California, powering one of our largest blueberry operations.”

Social responsibility

Naturipe was among the first companies to sign onto the ethical charter developed by the PMA International Fresh Produce Association and United Fresh. The charter outlines social responsibility issues and standards to ensure farmworker safety and security.

The company is also active participants and on the advisory board for the Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP), a farm-level assessment and training to ensure every farm worker is treated fairly and employee safety comes first.

“In addition, many of our farms have also had a third-party social responsibility audit to ensure worker safety and that every worker is treated with respect,” McIntosh said. “While some of our growers are Fair Trade certified, all our growers are active in the communities they grow in. They support local charities, provide much-needed health and dental services, and even build playgrounds and ball fields.”

Article written by Keith Loria, Contributing Writer

A graduate of the University of Miami, Keith Loria is an award- winning journalist who has been writing for almost 20 years. View his recent writing at keithloria.contently.com.

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The CCOF endowment was created to ensure growers can remain growing organic in perpetuity.

The CCOF Foundation is undertaking a $5 million campaign to raise funds for the endowment to fund CCOF Foundation’s programs which provide scholarships for future organic farmers, organic grower disaster relief, and wrap-around services for farmers transitioning land to organic. Also included are unrestricted funds to enhance the CCOF Foundation’s ability to support famers as they go and stay organic, according to a news release.

Becky Blythe, one of the CCOF’s most tenured staff, bequeathed a $100,000 gift to the CCOF Foundation. The CCOF Foundation launched the endowment through the Becky Blythe Endowed Fund as the inaugural gift.

An endowed gift helps maintain a steady level of funding for the CCOF Foundation, ensuring that the Foundation can support organic farmers in perpetuity, according to the release.

Based in Santa Cruz, California, CCOF Foundation advances organic by supporting the people and communities who care for the land. CCOF Foundation unites the organic community to advance organic agriculture through education, financial support and growth opportunities for organic professionals, according to the release.

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This program offers financial assistance to organic producers, processors, distributors, and other handlers pursuing organic certification.

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He’s not just a user of biologicals, however. As the former CEO of AgraQuest, a biopesticide company, Meadows-Smith is recognized as a pioneer, selling the company to Bayer CropScience in 2012 for almost $500 million. This signaled the first major investment in biologicals by a traditional chemical company.

Now he is the CEO of BioConsortia, a Davis, California-based company that discovers, designs and licenses microbial products.

Marcus and Jenny Meadows-Smith share a passion for wine and food, which led to them develop Great Bear Vineyards. The winery hosts events ranging from wedding receptions to comedy nights and birthday parties.

As a boutique winery, Great Bear Vineyards produces about 2,000 cases a year, most of which are sold at the winery and through a wine club it runs. The winery has gained a reputation for its grapes, some of which are sold to Napa Valley wineries, a 45-minute drive from Davis. Marcus Meadows-Smith and his wife, head vintner Jenny Meadows-Smith, bought the former tomato, sunflower and corn ranch about 10 years ago, incorporating historic buildings into the business, including the barn and original homestead, built around 1860. Jenny Meadows-Smith, a chemist, attended the University of California- Davis’ renowned viticulture and enology program. The couple planted 10 acres of grapevines, about 600 olive trees, lavender and assorted fruit trees around the property. They process and sell olive and lavender oils and donate fruit to local charities.

Great Bear Vineyards offered its first wines for sale in 2018, and quickly became noticed, earning silver, gold and double-gold medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Great Bear Vineyards was voted Best Local Winery by Sacramento Magazine readers in 2020 and 2021. Its Chardonnay, Roussanne varietals and Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon have received high ranks from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Great Bear Vineyards kept the original barn and homestead at the former ranch. Marcus Meadows-Smith and his wife Jenny, who own and operate the winery, also live at the property.

The winery attracts visitors from UC-Davis, including international visitors, who are interested in Great Bear’s sustainable and organic growing practices. Weeds, wildlife, water and more Davis has hot, dry summers, so pest pressures are low, Meadows- Smith said.

Permanent cover crops include a mix of ryegrass, wildflowers and clover. Under the grapevines, weed control is critical because a grape’s flavor can be affected by plants touching the fruit. As an organic grower, Meadows-Smith said weed control is the most difficult challenge. “In the first year, you have to protect the very young vines, because if they get an insect attack, then you can lose the flowers,” he said. “Now that they’re mature, a small amount of insect pressure on the leaves does not affect the quality of the grapes at all. And then we tend to do like a lime sulfur (application) when the vines are dormant and then through the growing season, it’s mostly just a natural oil that is sprayed.”

To be effective at limiting pest damage, the treatment has to be repeated during the growing season. “Is it better for the environment? I don’t know, because we have to go through the vineyard more frequently,” Meadows-Smith said. “So you’re using more fossil fuels by taking the sprayer through on a more regular basis.”

Great Bear Vineyards uses Bayer’s Serenade ASO, a biological fungicide developed by AgraQuest, as well as Pyganic Crop Protection EC, a bio-insecticide derived from chrysanthemums, the biofungicide Regalia and a microbial insecticide containing spinosad, which has been used by organic growers for more than 20 years. Meadows-Smith describes himself as a “keen ornithologist,” and the property is home to owls (including a pair of great horned owls), kestrels and hawks, and other assorted wildlife.

If coyotes aren’t keeping the wild turkey population in check, they’ll eat the grapes, so a friend with a crossbow is invited to hunt them. “So having those birds of prey around is certainly a deterrent for other birds that come in,” Meadows-Smith said. “The problem you have is, once they’re pecked, the sugary liquid comes out, and then you can get disease, bunch rot. And then as an organic grower, it’s almost impossible to control that.” The winery stopped growing Petit Sirah and Zinfandel grapes, because they’re thin-skinned and prone to bunch rot.

Marcus Meadows-Smith tests winegrapes to to determine when they are ready for processing.

To ensure the grapes receive enough water despite the dry climate, Meadows-Smith employs deficit-irrigation techniques to train roots to grow deep. Quality, and not tonnage, is a goal in growing winegrapes.

“You’re looking to have small berries with intense flavors, and therefore you don’t actually want to fill them with water because then the berries just swell up,” he said. “Then you get a lot of juice, which means you can make a lot of alcohol, but you lose flavor.” Genetic editing Meadows-Smith said BioConsortia uses gene editing to maximize the beneficial potential within a microbe’s genome. For example, the company’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes uses a proprietary research and development platform to improve a microbe’s nitrogen- fixing capabilities.

“Microbes are very clever, and when they detect ammonia in their immediate surroundings, they switch off nitrogen fixation because nitrogen fixation is very energy intensive if you do it in a factory or if you’re a microbe doing it, because you have to break chemical bonds,” he said.

BioConsortia removes the microbe’s feedback loop that tells it to turn off the nitrogen-fixing process, essentially causing those microbes to continue to provide nitrogen in the soil after synthetic fertilizers would have dissipated. “It’s different from genetic modification,” Meadows- Smith said. “What we’re doing, we are just unleashing the natural power of the microbes so they naturally fix atmospheric nitrogen or they naturally control nematodes — we just help them do it better.”

Field trials and the future

Before AgraQuest, Meadows-Smith led Chemtura Corporation’s plastics additives and crop protection business. Now, he’s helping growers reduce reliance on chemicals at BioConsortia. The company recently closed on a $15 million round of financing, spurred in part by successful field trials, according to the company.

Great Bear Vineyards grows four varieties of white grapes and eight varieties of red grapes, some of which are blended. As a boutique winery, Great Bear produces about 2,000 cases of wine a year.

“Particularly now at BioConsortia we’re looking to produce very high-performing products that are equivalent to the chemistry and their efficacy as (synthetic) products, or in the area of nitrogen-fixing microbes, that will displace a large percentage of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer,” he said. “You know, my philosophy is we don’t want the grower to compromise on quality. What we’re looking to do is to provide an easy-to-use, cost-effective product.”

The first U.S. regulatory approvals are expected on BioConsortia’s products this year and the company has agreements with companies to distribute specific products when EPA approves them. That includes a broad-spectrum biofungicide for diseases in apples, berries, grapes, stone fruits and vegetables from Nichino America, and the biostimulant Zaffre from The Mosaic Co. that has shown average yield increases of more than 15% in fruit and vegetable crops, including tomatoes and beans. Other partnerships haven’t been announced yet.

In recent years, BioConsortia’s products have been through about 3,000 field trials across the U.S., Meadows-Smith said, on a wide range of specialty and row crops. Trials are also ongoing in Europe and South America. More than a dozen seed companies are testing BioConsortia products as seed treatments. After selling AgraQuest, he became head of strategic and business management of biologicals for Bayer for a brief time.

It’s now common for the major chemical companies to have similar divisions, acquisitions or partnerships to advance biological products.

“I think growers are starting to see advantages to soil health, regenerative agriculture, that replacing some of the sprays with biologicals is giving benefits to the soil, to their ultimate yields,” he said. The products are becoming more shelf stable; some products had to be refrigerated, and were not easy to use or mix with other products in the sprayer tank. Inconsistent results concerned growers. But field trials in recent years have proved some biologicals do work as advertised, Meadows-Smith said. “So with the best biologicals, it’s no longer a question of compromise,” he said. “It’s now a question of getting the message out.”

— Chris Koger, contributing editor

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FieldWatch, a nonprofit that provides the service in 24 states and one Canadian province, is progressing with adding Georgia to the program, and several other states have expressed interest. FieldWatch databases give applicators and growers the ability to check surrounding areas before they spray to minimize the risk of chemical drift that could compromise organic acreage or harm bees.

FieldWatch offers several registries: DriftWatch, for specialty crops; CropCheck, for row crops; BeeCheck, for beekeepers; and SeedFieldCheck, for seed companies to map the location of field workers. FieldCheck is a master map of those registries, for applicators to consult before aerial or ground spraying.

Growers can include personal contact information, and Curt Hadley, FieldWatch business development director, said it’s opening a dialogue between people who apply synthetic crop products for a living, and the organic community and beekeepers.

“I’ve said that in agriculture, 99 out of every 100 people want to do the right things and we’re giving everybody a platform to have an opportunity to do the right thing, so it’s refreshing that we can have those conversations and bring people together where historically we haven’t,” Hadley said.

Surveys from users bear this out, Hadley said, and even when there is no direct communication, the platform works.

“What we tell people is that just because somebody isn’t reaching out to you and making a phone call, does not mean they’re not modifying their behaviors based on what they see,” Hadley said. “It makes a huge difference.”

How it works

The mapping interface is Google Maps-driven and centers around users mapping their crops or apiary sites through a simple web-based interface. Larger growers who have existing map data in other farm management systems can use that data. Growers can upload as many acres/fields by crop type as they have. Growers must enter their field boundaries on a laptop/desktop computer, but beekeepers can use a mobile app to enter hive locations.

Hadley meets with current and potential user groups, and although states handle the program differently, a state agency must be involved to sign the contract. Although growers/beekeepers can control their data, every acre is vetted to ensure the program’s integrity. The goal is to have each state’s online presence to carry its department of agriculture seal.

“So nothing new goes on the map in any given state until somebody at the state level looks at it, scrutinizes it, and either kicks it back, or looks at it and says it’s good,” Hadley said.

Organic acreage must be certified by a USDA-approved certification agency.

Although use of the registry is mostly voluntary, at least one state, Kansas, requires personnel at the county level to consult FieldCheck before spraying for noxious weeds, Hadley said. Most states enrolled in the program include FieldWatch information in their mandatory pesticide certification training.

A big boost to the use of FieldWatch registries comes from precision agriculture platforms; Hadley said more than a dozen companies offer access as part of their software packages. All told, a conservative estimate of users is about 50,000, he said.

The service relies on growers and beekeepers to maintain their data each year.

“One of the things that we do every year without fail is, if you had something mapped last year, in the first quarter of the ensuing year, we send you emails and we bully you, browbeat you, and make sure that you validate, update, whatever the case might be — but if you take no action on those fields they disappear from the maps,” Hadley said.

— Chris Koger, contributing editor

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The Organic Produce Summit (OPS) has made some changes to this year’s show, including the addition of a fireside chat.

Scheduled for July 10-11 in Monterey, California, OPS is the only event exclusively dedicated to connecting buyers and suppliers in the organic fresh produce industry, according to a news release.

At the eighth annual event, the final keynote, “Retail Fireside Chat,” will take place on July 11 following a morning keynote.

In the fireside chat keynote, industry experts will tackle critical challenges in boosting retail sales. Panelists include Robby Cruz, vice president of produce at Target and Patrick Haines, vice president of produce at United Natural Foods.

Kevin Coupe, who writes at Morning News Beat.com and teaches at Portland State University’s Center for Retail Leadership in Oregon, is scheduled to moderate the panel. The panelists will explore industry topics including the organic program evolution, consumer preferences and the impact of technology on organic operations.

The panel will also tackle changing consumer behaviors and the role of artificial intelligence in growing both organic and overall produce sales.

Education: Labeling at retail

In addition, a new educational panel discussion has been set up. “Cracking the Code: Label Messaging at Retail” will delve into the many keywords consumers face when shopping for fresh produce, including organic, pesticide-free, locally grown and sustainable. The panel will also explore whether this type of messaging resonates or confuses customers.

The session will address whether the industry is successfully navigating the buzzwords and marketing strategies, examine how to better articulate the advantages of organic produce and communicate how the products are grown, according to the release.

Panelists include

• Joe Merenda, CEO at Misionero
• Kim Chackal, co-owner and director of sales & marketing at Equifruit
• Mary Heslep, senior vice president at Ten Acre Marketing
• Michael La Kier, vice president of brand development at IGA Brands.

OPS 2024 also includes a selection of field tours for qualified retailers and buyers, an opening night reception and a sold-out trade show floor featuring more than 175 producers and processors of organic fresh produce from across North America and the globe.

OPS 2024 is a two-day event specifically designed to bring together organic fresh produce growers, shippers and processors with retailers and buying organizations from across North America.

For more information, visit the Organic Produce Summit website.

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