Archive for March, 2022

Burkart Organics Stone Fruit Farm Visit

March 31, 2022 | Alec

Stone fruit season is around the corner and our next stop was to Burkart Organics, an Earl’s exclusive in Dinuba. Our first breath of fresh flowers filled the senses as we met Richard Burkart and his dog. After a short introduction, we dove right in, following him to assess the damage from a recent frost. We passed recently planted saplings – persimmons and jujubes for his LA farmers markets – on the way to the pink flowers that indicate nectarines or peaches (as opposed to the white blossoms of plums and apricots). The sheer amount of beautiful flowers seemed to indicate that his trees were safe… but Richard explained that the number of blossoms doesn’t necessarily mean a full set of fruit.

Richard Bukart with Jonathan Earl’s Organic

Now each grower has a unique style of tree-care, but Richard explained some of the intricacies of his operation, sharing what he saw as we wandered the rows. “A long time ago it was more predictable, maybe in the ‘80s and ‘90s”, he told us. This year the rain came early, and the frost came late: we arrived somewhere between the pink bud and bloom stages of growth – soon the petals would fall, and the fruit would begin to “shed their jackets” (emerge from the tiny bud). Once shed, the fruit becomes especially vulnerable to frost, but the frost damage may have already been done. “We’ll find out at thinning time,” where his crew of 8-10 will remove budding fruits to improve the quality of what remains.

Richard spoke of other challenges: “That’s not very much, we don’t have very much”, he said, pointing to the snow-capped mountains in the distance. For now, the trees didn’t need much – the biggest influx of water comes in the last month before harvest, to fatten up the fruit. But the lack of rain was notable to him, as was the lack of chill. He shared that the past eight years have not seen enough chill hours, which can lead to uneven blooming patterns, and the warm days create more opportunity for pest pressure. Such factors led him to divine that citrus may have a stronger chance in the Valley, a hypothesis he shared as we picked the last of his kumquats (a farmer always has something in the back pocket).

Spending time with Richard gave us a sense that this is simply what he does; farming stone fruit brings him joy, a central part of who he is and has been. He’s trying things, such as adding swaths of compost around his new trees and testing out PH adjustments to the soil. He dug his well deeper, spending ninety grand to dig a whopping 450 feet into the ground. He’s also waiting for a grant from the government to install drip lines for water conservation. A partner with Earl’s from the start, he’s been shuffling boxes out of a truck all summer for over thirty years, and he doesn’t intend to quit any time soon!

Earl’s Buyer’s Notes March 27, 2022

March 28, 2022 | Susan

As the season shifts, look for varied sizing across multiple classes. In Apples, we have multiple Honeycrisp offerings for price flexibility, as well as 113-count Fujis and Pink Ladys for a value option. Citrus is winding down – Cara Cara’s are still trickling in but should peter out shortly, and we’ll begin to see some California Valencias to offset late-season Navels. Ask your sales rep about smaller Grapefruit and large Lemons and Navels – the growers appreciate our help moving these less-standard options! Mexican Berries will see a flush over the next few weeks, and Coastal Blueberries are stable. The heat has many looking for Watermelons (which we have, from Mexico), but we’re swimming in tropicals! Fair Trade Pineapples are juicy, Dragonfruit is gorgeous (though limited), and Coconuts and Papayas are back. Crespo Mangos are taking the Bay Area by storm! Thank you for your partnership in promoting this awesome fruit – together we’re surely boosting Vitamin-C for all.

At this point in the season, the market will transition out of storage crops. This is where the often-overlooked seasonality of Potatoes, Garlic, and Onions comes into play – we’re staying on top of it, but expect a certain degree of sprouting as they try to grow again. We’ll be sourcing Garlic from Argentina for the summer, and Onions from Mexico for a few weeks. Shallots will gap for most of the summer. Covilli is winding down early this year, mid-late April. A poor market early on, along with colder weather, created the conditions for the current shortages (i.e. Hot Peppers). But Spring has sprung. In our buyer’s words: “we’ll soon have peas coming out of our ears!” Tutti Frutti is coming on strong with crunchy Snaps and the sweet favorite, English Peas. Spring Onions from Organic Treat look sharp! Get the last of Mexican Asparagus before we move into local Coastal View Produce full time. With Cal-O operational in Salinas, we should finally be back into a healthy supply of Lettuces, as well as Bunched Gold Beets, Baby Broccoli, Baby Bok Choy, and Bunched Spinach (all hit by the aphid aggression of 2022). Keep selling those crisp and beautiful Little Gems in the meantime. We are keeping tabs on Cauliflower fromJosie’s as other labels tighten up – rest assured that you will receive the best we can find! Expect a tight inventory on Gourmet Mushrooms, as Mycopia wrestles with production challenges (not enough space to inoculate, in the face of high demand!). Bell Peppers, Hot Peppers, Cucumbers and Tomatoes are tightening up out of Mexico due to cooler weather slowing down production and growers waiting for new sets to come on. Expect prices to rise this week. Don’t miss a beet. Download the Weekly Buyer’s Notes here.

Spring Central Valley Farm Visits-First Stop Anna’s Organics

March 25, 2022 | Alec

Driving through the Central Valley in the Spring produces a powerful feeling. Through the endless groves of almonds, citrus, and stone fruit, past the dairy operations and next to the grazing cattle… it’s the most agriculturally productive part of our country, and yet it’s hard to ignore how tired the soil looks – cracked and dry, without a single weed in sight, under row after row of flowering trees.

But our growers are different. While they all spoke of water realities, touring their stone fruit groves revealed stark and hopeful examples of organic farming in the Valley: trees surrounded by lush greenery, healthy ecosystems humming with life, and dedicated stewards of the land. As well as, of course, what is sure to be the best tasting fruit around!

We first met with Anna’s Organics, a new grower partner located near Chowchilla, CA. With about 60 acres smack in the middle of conventional fruit groves, we were greeted by a hand-painted sign: “Organic farm, do not spray”, a necessary reminder as a blaring crop duster circled the fields next door. The plane made dramatic turns, drawing our attention as it drowned out our conversations with noise. When we asked, they ensured us that local patrols work to enforce buffer zones and protect the organic production from chemicals. But the scenario provided a palpable frame for what organic growers in the Valley can be up against.

Outside of their small pack-shed we met Manuel, father and principal grower, Luis, his son who takes care of sales, Anna, his daughter in charge of business and organic compliance, and their mother: quality control, and operations. It’s a true family-run business!

Manuel has been farming since he was 12 years old and farming organically for 12 years. With their access to irrigation water in addition to well water, the climate in the Valley and cheaper rent gives them an advantage. The scorching heat of the summer pares production down to exclusively cherry tomatoes, but with another 30 acres prime for production, there’s ample room for growth.

Anna’s Organics was referred to Earl’s by Kitchen Table Advisors (KTA), a non-profit organization that supports the economic success of farmers, providing personalized business development, contacts in the industry, and more. Angie accompanied us on the tour, translating from Spanish, and showing us what KTA does in action. We walked the fields, which were laden with roots and their overgrown tops at this time of year.

Anna’s Organics Family Business with Angie Kitchen Table Advisors and Jonathan, Earl’s Organic

Manuel assured us that he could essentially grow anything the climate would allow: Angie asked about the Spanish names of various vegetables, to which he would reply with an affirmative “claro que si.” Tell me what you want and I’ll sow the seeds. Manuel would periodically reach down for a sample – the daikon was fresh and spicy, the raw rutabagas (which none of us had tasted before) were surprisingly sweet, mild, and delicious.

Next up was a visit to Burkart Organic Farms in Dinuba, an Earl’s Exclusive. Read all the details in our next blog.

Coastal View Produce California Organic Asparagus

March 23, 2022 | Susan

California Organic Asparagus from Coastal View Produce in the Salinas Valley is a sure sign Spring is here! As the first golden rays light up the morning sky -on any given morning- you will find Ron Mondo out in the fields, meeting with supervisors and field operations managers. His is not a 9-5 job. Ron Mondo is a second generation farmer who grew up in Santa Cruz, California. Ron’s grandparents migrated from the Piedmont region of Italy known for its agricultural and wine production. Growing up in Santa Cruz, Ron was surrounded by sunny beaches and the bountiful agricultural land of the Watsonville valley. Ron learned all about being an environmental steward and protecting the land for the next generations from his father, the late John Mondo.

“One of my earliest and fondest memories, is riding in the truck with my father. We would go out and inspect the fruits of his labor. As I grew older, during the summer months, I worked in those exact same fields, learning all the basics of farming and techniques handed down from generation to generation”, states Ron Mondo.

In 2000, Ron partnered up with the Ippolito family and established Ippolito International on the west coast. In 2018, Ron took over the reins of Coastal View Produce from a longtime family friend, the Violini family, and ventured into the asparagus market. For over 35 years Coastal View Produce has been growing high-quality, organic asparagus in between the Santa Lucia and Gabilan mountain ranges in the heart of the Salinas Valley. The Mediterranean climate and fertile soil make it an ideal growing region for asparagus. The weather is never too hot or too cold, staying around 65-75 degrees. Ron and his team are busy insuring the asparagus crop is tended to daily. Ron’s team is busy inspecting, harvesting, packing and shipping asparagus from sunup to sundown. With over 170 acres of organic asparagus Coastal View Farms is committed to growing the asparagus category.

Coastal View Produce relies on a practical, yet holistic approach to keeping their farm sustainable. This involves respecting the farmland’s surrounding ecosystems and unique biodiversities; managing inputs, including water, energy, and packaging materials conservatively while seeking to maximize the production outputs as efficiently as possible. This includes analyzing soils regularly and amending and fertilizing as needed; and using an integrated pest management system to limit what is applied to crops.

Weather dependent, the season starts up in February and runs through July 4^th.

Earl’s Buyer’s Notes March 20, 2022

March 21, 2022 | Susan

Club Apples are winding down quickly this year, say farewell to the Cosmic Crisp and Sugar Bee until next year! We will continue to seek out the best product available on your staple apples: Honeycrisp are available on the tight side, but Fujis and larger Pink Ladys are rockin’. Rincon is in full swing with Avocados, look for them on the weekly specials. Get your citrus while you can: Cara Cara’s and Tangos will be strong for another week, but look to the 72ct Navel for best supply, and Gold Nuggets for your late-season Mandarin. In Berry world this week: a mix of Mexican and California product – try out the Homegrown Blueberry for a good value coastal-grown CA option. Crespo Mangos are stunning and high quality, build out your display with a great deal: the Tommy Atkins 21-23ct case will save about 50 cents per piece on a typical 8ct size. Look for a few fun options to fill up those holes in your display – Italian Kiwis and import Red Bartletts!

It’s time to build up your Asparagus display! The Mexican Queen Victoria deal will provide a great value, and the local Coastal View Produce product is fresh as can be with steadier harvests. The Spring transitions are affecting multiple commodities – we hope to land fresh Lettuces, Bunched Spinach and Baby Bok Choy this week! Baby Broccoli supply is limited. We are also seeing some aphid pressure and quality issues on Broccoli & Cauliflower – look for 16ct & even 20ct for the best option as prices increase. Persian Cukes will be in great supply over the next few weeks.

In the face of heavy allocations from Bunny Luv, Earthbound Table Carrots are a perfect substitute for cliptops. We’re seeing the first land of local Slicer Tomatoes from Wilgenburg and Peas from Tutti Frutti – expect a price spread compared to Mexican product, made up for with stellar freshness and label recognition! Don’t miss a beet. Download the Weekly Buyer’s Notes here.