People sure are talking more and more about organic food, and you’ve likely seen increased sales of organic fruits and vegetables.You’ve probably already decided whether to have a separate organic section of the produce department or keep them close together (but never touching).You have a general idea about it, but how much do you really know about organic produce?First of all, in order to be “organic” fruits and ve...

California’s largest fig grower loves his work, but ask about flavor and he’s quick to reveal his other passion – wine.Black Mission, the state’s signature fig, channels the earthy richness of a Cabernet Sauvignon, says Kevin Herman, owner of Specialty Crop Co., which farms over 4,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley, half the California crop. The larger seeds of the Calimyrna or Sierra fig give it a nutty characteris...

Try this now: Dressings and Dips Refrigerated dressings and dips are a growing category, ripe with opportunity. According to Nielsen Perishables Group, overall produce dips are up 14.3% in dollars and 12.5% up in volume over the past year ending in July. Broken down further, vegetable dips, which make up 84% of the category, are up 16% in volume and ‘other’ dips are up 28%, though they make up only about 3% of the ca...

Dried fruit or fresh?That’s a question that keeps popping up about the date category. The answer, it seems, is a resounding: It depends.“Traditionally, dates have always been considered a dried fruit,” says Rich Paumen, senior vice president of retail sales and marketing for Kingsburg-based Sun-Maid Growers of California.But that may be more perception than reality.“They’re dry by reputation, not by definition,” says...

Category Spotlight: CarrotsCarrots are the No. 3 most popular vegetable for The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2016 shoppers, with 68% reporting purchase in the past 12 months. The crunchy roots were the No. 5 most popular produce item overall in the survey. Shoppers with three or more children in the home were nine percentage points more likely than average to buy carrots. In fact, carrots are the top vegetable parents said...