The Organic Journey of Mckay Creek Blueberries
Nestled within the landscape of North Plains, Oregon, Mckay Creek Blueberries is a thriving organic farm spanning 160 acres, with 72 acres dedicated to producing some of the finest organic blueberries.
Liepold Farms: A Berry Sweet Legacy
Nestled in the foothills of Mount Hood lies a family berry operation that has thrived for generations. Liepold Farms buzzes to life each spring as rows upon rows of berries flourish.
Asian Greens 101 with OGC
After a successful trial in April, it’s clear that shoppers can’t get enough Asian greens. Eaters are grabbing bunches to explore a world of texture and color.
Raymond Wong of OriginO: Organic Excellence in Northwest Greenhouse Farming
Raymond Wong, president of Origin Organic Farms, has guided OriginO’s growing practices since the farm’s first tomato was harvested.
Cover Crop Innovation: OSU Organic Extension Collaborates with Siri & Son Farms
The prohibitive costs of utilizing cover crops had Nick Andrews, an Organic Extension Agent from Oregon State University who focuses on organic vegetable production, wondering if he couldn’t create accessible solutions.
Summer Farm Visits: OGC In the Field with Willamette Valley Growers
Harvests of Northwest-grown vegetables, fruit and berries are at full tilt making it a busy and beautiful time of year at organic farms in the Willamette Valley.
OGC Visits Longtime Stone Fruit Grower Partners in California
Stone fruit orchards in California are heavy with sweet and succulent apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums and pluots. OGC recently had the opportunity to visit several of our incredible grower partners in the Central Valley to reconnect and see how this season’s fruit is coming along.
Gorgeous NW Grown Greens
Available now in steady volume, be sure to bring in plenty of these greens and remind shoppers they’re nutritious, delicious and grown organically by small-to-medium-sized Northwest farms.
Mustard Seed Farms: Giant Pumpkins & More!
Autumn marks a special time of year for Mustard Seed Farms: giant pumpkin season! Tipping the scales at hundreds of pounds, these behemoth varieties are in high demand for seasonal displays and sales. Retailers are known to host contests, rewarding the closest guess that identifies the weight of these giants.
Schreiber Farms: A Melon Masterclass
“I grew up on a diversified farm in Missouri,” Alan Schreiber jokes. “We grew soybeans AND corn.”
Now living and growing in Eltopia, WA. with partner Leisl Zappler, Alan is more than a farmer. He’s also a professor and founder of Agricultural Development Group (ADG), which specializes in agriculture research focused on fertility, insects, disease, weed control and variety trials.
Liepold Farms: Newly Certified Organic Berries!
On the foothills of majestic Mt. Hood in Oregon, in an area rich with agritourism, the Liepold family is in their 71st year of growing fruit and berries.
Third-generation Liepolds, Michelle and brother Jeff, along with their partners Paul and Jen, have taken the lead in the family business and are charting a bright future for the farm. Long dedicated to soil health and sustainable practices, Liepold Farms just completed its transition to organic certification.
Great news for fans of organic berries, as Liepold grows some Northwest favorites!
Frog Hollow Farm Apricots
Lusty and luscious organic apricots from our friends at Frog Hollow Farm have something of a cult following. Asked for by name, these juicy gems leave little room for improvement and are enhanced by their whimsical label and the convenience of grab-and-go clamshells.
Now’s The Time For Nettles!
OGC Visits Oshala Farm & Their Medicinal Magic!
Whether enjoyed culinarily or selected for their hefty list of health benefits, spring is prime time for consuming Nettles! OGC is proud to partner with Oshala Farm to source these organically grown nutrient-dense greens, and recently jumped on the opportunity to visit farmers Elise and Jeff Higley in the field.
Rainbow Valley Orchards: Working To Make Organic Easy
With groves in all three citrus districts in California and Mexico, Rainbow Valley Orchards proudly boasts a year-round supply of organic citrus and subtropical fruit. More than just a reliable source of high-quality produce, this grower-marketer is working to reduce barriers to choosing organic, whether for farmers or the end consumer.
Learn more about this long-term partner helping OGC bring organic citrus to eager eaters in the Pacific Northwest!
Ask For Covilli: High Quality Produce From Mid-Sized Family Farm Brings the Taste of Summer to Wintery NW
With a relationship spanning more than three decades, OGC has long relied on the impressive work of our friends at Covilli Brand Organics to help keep Northwest eaters flush with high-quality produce during our cooler months. As local growers tuck their fields in for a winter rest, Covilli provides core “summer” vegetables and fruits grown in Sonora’s Epalme Valley.
Learn more about a new product, Covilli’s expansion, and what’s eating exceptionally well right now!
Organics Unlimited Continues to Invest In Grower Communities While Grappling With Rising Costs
Since 2005, Organics Unlimited has utilized its GROW program to invest over $2,700,000 into communities in the banana-growing regions of Mexico and Ecuador. OGC is proud to support this program, especially as the cost of bringing high-quality, sustainable food from farm to plate increases.
Learn more about how the rising cost of goods impacts the banana industry and how retailers and shoppers can help invest in a sustainable and equitable supply chain.
Don’t miss the link to a powerful podcast featuring Daniella Velazquez de Leon from Organics Unlimited as she details these challenges.
Field Report: Purple Sprouting Broccoli
Overwintering crops have been planted and are growing steadily in fields across the Northwest. OGC’s Director of Purchasing Mike Neubeck paid a visit to our friends at Farias Farm in Washington to check on the progress of their organic Purple Sprouting Broccoli.
Boldly Grown Farm: Really Into Radicchio!
Boldly Grown Farm was built upon a very specific vision and followed a strategy that few first-time farmers take. Amy and Jacob decided early on that they would focus on wholesale relationships rather than try their hand at farmers markets and retail-direct sales. They also made the decision to grow exclusively fall and winter crops.
Celebrating Transitions: Spring Hill Organic Farm Sprouts Sunrise Organic Farm & Eloisa Organic Farm
The progression from summer to fall recently inspired OGC to reflect on the theme of “transitions.” Supporting the next generation of organic farmers, and finding opportunities to prioritize more growers of color, are two of OGC’s priorities. While not new news to those in the Pacific Northwest’s community of growers and purveyors of organic produce, Jamie Kitzrow and wife Lisa Schwartz’s retirement from farming in 2019 and their subsequent passing of the torch from Spring Hill Farm to Sunrise and Eloisa is a lovely story to share this time of year that touches on both themes.
Little Garden Farm Represents a Big Dream Realized
This is the final chapter of our four-part series on Denison Farms’ transition with the story of Little Garden Farm.
Like Commonplace Farm and Riverland Family Farms, this small, family-run organic grower has benefitted from Tom Denison and Elizabeth Kerle’s commitment to ensuring the next generation of young farmers find success in an increasingly challenging landscape.
We wish Tom and Elizabeth the best as they enjoy their next chapter and hope you join us in supporting these three fantastic growers!