Fall for Wild Mushrooms
Fans of foraged foods are celebrating the start of the autumn wild mushroom season. Forest floors across the Northwest are unseasonably dry, but nature has found a way, and these fall favorites have begun to pop. Look for volume and variety to increase as the rain comes in. Try these three, and keep an eye out for more wild mushrooms as the season progresses.
Order Ornamentals Now!
Shoppers are cozying up to warmer meals and autumn-inspired treats that feature fall favorites from apples and pears to winter squash and radicchio. Meanwhile, porches, windowsills, tables and mantles are all calling for fall festooning, too!
Just in time, eye-catching decorative gourds and gorgeous ornamental corn have arrived in all their lumpy, bumpy, colorful brilliance!
Kick Off the NW Pear Season with OGC’s Pear Primer!
The Northwest organic pear season is upon us, and it’s a plentiful parade of colors, shapes and delicious flavors. With over 35 varieties to choose from, there is a lot to know about this sumptuous category! OGC’s Pear Primer is here to help share information and grow sales.
Summer Meets Fall in an Abundance of Flavor!
With the official beginning of Autumn, fall favorites are on the way while creating a delicious collision of flavors with the summer produce that is still available. Below is an update on how much longer to expect volume availability on summer favorites and which fall items are here or on the horizon.
Don’t Miss Keitt Mangos!
Large in size and big on flavor, the Keitt variety maintains its green exterior color even when fully ripe.
Download the POP to help move thess magnificent mangos!
OGC’s VP of Sales & Sourcing Shares How to Capture Sales During the Final Weeks of Summer
The days are getting shorter, and there’s a fresh crispness to the mornings. Seasonal change is upon us once again!
Mike Boyle, OGC’s VP of Sales and Sourcing, shares a solid strategy to ensure grower partners are supported, and summer sales remain high until it’s time to switch solidly to fall sets.
NW-Grown Kiwi Berries
Kiwi berry season is nearly here! Increase category sales with this tasty, tangy treat from OGC’s organic grower partners in the Northwest. Packed in bold and bright Ladybug Brand clamshells, kiwi berries are sure to attract interest and repeat sales!
To help move mountains of these delicious morsels, use this Kiwi Berry Toolkit, complete with easy-to-download resources, including a produce profile, merchandising tips, POP signage and photos.
Place Your Order For Hatch Chiles!
Get ready to crank up the Scoville scale. Organic New Mexico-grown Hatch chiles are headed for the Pacific Northwest! Like other products with regional names (think Walla Walla onions), these chiles can only have the name Hatch if grown in the Hatch Valley. This region is known for its rich soil, hot days and cool nights creating ideal conditions that yield the most flavorful green chiles.
Move Melons with Tasting Demos!
This time of year has shoppers looking for summer treats to quench their thirst and sweeten up snack time. With melon season on in the Northwest, it’s an ideal moment to introduce eaters to new-to-them varieties or encourage shoppers to pick up a familiar favorite!
Setting up a successful demo in your store is a proven way to drive category sales and can be easily executed with a few considerations and details in mind.
Why Choose Dry-Farmed Tomatoes?
One simple answer is dry-farmed tomatoes taste incredible! But, there’s more motivation to embrace dry farming than just the quality of food it produces. The practice may provide a meaningful strategy to address climate resiliency.
Don’t Miss Delectable Dragon Fruit
With intriguing skin and stunning vibrant flesh that’s quick to gain loyal fans, organic magenta Dragon Fruit is all the rage with eaters that enjoy a diverse fruit bowl. We’re proud to partner with our friends at Covilli in Mexico and Rainbow Valley Orchards in California to offer this gorgeous fruit!
NW-Grown Melon Toolkit
Some of the most delectable organic melons are sourced from the arid regions of Eastern Washington and Oregon. OGC is proud to work with a handful of dedicated growers to provide an array of specialty melons and familiar favorites.
Use this collection of resources, including POP and grower information, to prepare for Northwest melon season and keep enthusiasm high for this delicious category until the very last bin is empty!
Fill Shoppers Salad Bowls with Northwest-Grown Lettuces!
Although this June has been rainier than some Northwest residents would like, lettuces have been loving it! Salad season is certainly upon us, and plenty of leafy greens are available for shoppers to build into beautiful salads.
Our Willamette Valley grower partners are providing plenty of options to meet every eater’s needs!
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.
Organic Yellow Pitaya Dragon Fruit Toolkit
The vibrant yellow skin of this sunny Pitaya variety reveals a soft, white flesh studded with small, edible seeds. Also known as Dragon Fruit or Pitahaya, now is the perfect time to bring in this unique and refreshing tropical treat. Very juicy with a sweet and mild, lightly floral flavor, these vibrant, beautifully tasty and high-quality fruits make a stunning addition to tropical sets.
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.
Great Grilling Sets to Inspire Memorial Day Meals and More!
The unofficial start to grilling season is just around the corner as Memorial Day nears! Great for eaters looking forward to dining al fresco and fantastic for driving sales across the department as shoppers fill their carts for spring and summer festivities. While the BBQs are getting dusted off, don’t miss opportunities to capitalize on fresh eating! Produce-packed salads, desserts and fruit and vegetable platters abound this season.
Pay extra attention to stocking these items over the next few months to satiate your shoppers’ cravings!
Get Your Green & White Asparagus from Northwest Growers!
Longer days and warmer nights have spears of organic asparagus poking up from their beds in the Pacific Northwest, much to the delight of eaters and growers! Once considered a fancy food, asparagus has become a mainstay in the kitchen, and shoppers are finding ways to incorporate it into meals any time of day.
California Stone Fruit Season Starts With Promises of a Sweet Summer!
The first varieties of stone fruit have begun to arrive from our grower partners in California. While the Northwest remains decidedly in the clutch of springtime’s cool temps and intermittent showers, these juicy gems are a delicious reminder that warmer days are on the way!
Learn what to expect in this stone fruit forecast!
Ruby Red Rhubarb from Montecucco Farms
With a history of family farming in the region that spans a century, Montecucco Farms is a familiar name in Oregon and across the West Coast. Known for their exceptional organic rhubarb, a legion of fans look to Montecucco Farms each spring to satisfy cravings for this tart and tempting seasonal crop.
Rhubarb season is on, with crews harvesting tasty stalks from the farm’s picturesque field adjacent to the lovely Willamette River.