Winter 2023 - 25

CONFERENCES
Growers, CEOs and coalition leaders discussed topics ranging
from the benefits and drawbacks of Controlled Environment
Agriculture to the future of organic growth, while equipment
manufacturers displayed state-of-the-art technology and the
Organic Grower of the Year received his award.
In a wide-ranging panel discussion, leaders of three large
grower-shippers talked about the challenges involved in
growing and selling organic produce but remained confident the
industry will continue to grow.
Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers,
moderated the discussion, which included Brie Reiter Smith,
vice president of product leadership at Driscoll's of the
Americas; Michael DuPuis, public relations manager at Divine
Flavor; and Tom Nunes V, president of The Nunes Co.
The panelists
agreed there has
been a drop in
organic sales in
2022. Second
quarter Nielsen data
revealed that while
organic produce
sales stood at $2.4
billion, up 3.7% from
the same period
in 2021, volume
dropped by 2.8%,
with 748 million
pounds of organic
produce sold.
" There's a
saturation point, "
said Nunes, the
fourth-generation
leader of the Salinas, California-based company which grows
Foxy brand produce on more than 20,000 acres. " Consumers
want quality as good as conventional and a price point close (to
conventional) as well. "
DuPuis said the consistency of the product and its pricing
is key.
" These days you have to be very reliable, " he said. " We're
not only in the produce business, but we're also in the
flavor business. "
Retail consolidation is limiting the power of tens of thousands
of organic producers, while ongoing labor shortages and
potential regulations also pose issues, the panelists said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering a European
Union policy mandating organic farming make up 30% of
all agricultural production by 2030, a prospect Smith called
" scary " in the face of climate change, pest pressure and the
fact that " we don't have water here, " she said. " The thought
of committing to a system that requires more water per
parcel is horrifying. "
Like the other panelists, though, Smith expressed confidence
that organic sales will continue to grow, saying that Driscoll's
has a 60% market share in the organic berry category in the
U.S. and that organic berry sales account for about 25% of the
company's revenue.
Another topic discussed by that panel was CEA, also the
subject of its own roundtable. Tom Stenzel, executive director
of the CEA Food Safety Coalition, moderated that discussion,
which included Robinson Fresh Director of Supply Molly
Tabron; CEO Arama Kukutai of Plenty; and Matt Ryan, CEO of
Soli Organic.
Both panels debated whether marketing CEA-labeled
products has the potential to both interfere with organic
labeling's market space and confuse consumers.
" Most consumers don't understand what organic really
means, " said Kukutai, an agritech entrepreneur and venture
capitalist. " No one's running out saying, 'Let me go get my
CEA strawberries.' "
Tabron said there has to be a greater focus on connecting
a rapidly expanding group of CEA growers with sellers to
strengthen the supply chain and ensure the product reaches
consumers.
We're not only in the
produce business, but
we're also in the flavor
business.
- Michael DuPuis, public relations manager, Divine Flavor
" Just because you
can grow it doesn't
mean you can sell it, "
she said.
The panelists
agreed on the
benefits of CEA,
an intensive,
indoor form of
hydroponically
based growing that
limits pests and
while controlling
growing mediums,
water usage and
other factors.
Kukutai said
more strategic
partnerships with
big-box retailers are necessary to help grow CEA awareness
and demand, while Ryan said the industry must address its
electricity consumption and evolve beyond the microgreens
it's currently known for producing.
" If we don't go beyond baby greens and basil, we're never
going to matter, " Ryan said.
All agreed there is a place in the market for CEA products,
with Kukutai saying the practice " unlocks new opportunities " to
increase global food supply at an affordable price point.
The precision and control of CEA is what's new, he said,
not indoor growing itself. While it will not replace outdoor
farming, " indoor farming is not going away, " Kukutai
said. " We need all the tools we can get our hands on to
sustainably feed the planet. "
Capping the summit was the announcement of the 2022
Organic Grower of the Year. Fourth-generation farmer Jeff
Huckaby, president and CEO of Grimmway Farms, accepted
the honor after watching a video tribute lauding him as an
industry rock star.
" It's pretty interesting to receive an award for something
you get up and do every day, " said Huckaby, who was also
named the 2020 Organic Farmer of the Year by the Organic
Trade Association.
Bakersfield-headquartered Grimmway Farms has grown
from a local produce stand started by the Grimm brothers in the
1960s into the world's largest producer of carrots.
ORGANICGROWER.INFO 25
http://www.ORGANICGROWER.INFO
Winter 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Winter 2023
