Don’t Rush the Season
We get it. September is coming. The coffee shops are rolling out the pumpkin spice lattes, and school is back in session in a few weeks. But for the produce department, there’s still a whole lot of summer left to sell.
Go Bananas for GROW Month
GROW stands for Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers, a program created by Organics Unlimited to support the communities where its fruit is grown. Every case of GROW bananas contributes $0.60 to the program.
2026 Summer Update
Our latest Update for Friends of OGC is here, filled with stories about the people, partnerships and ideas helping us grow the organic agriculture movement.
Inside, we’re celebrating the gloriousness of summer fruit, coworkers stepping into new leadership roles, small ideas making a big sustainability impact and how we’re exploring new technology that’s hitting the road.
A Northwest Tomato For Every Summer Meal
Northwest tomato season is firing on all cylinders. Whether shoppers are after a thick slice for a BLT, handfuls of sweet cherry tomatoes or colorful heirlooms for summer entertaining, nearly every tomato category is tasting great and available in promotable volume. This is the moment to build brimming displays that celebrate the incredible variety of tomato season.
Peak NW Melon Season Is Here. Time to Go Big.
Now's the time to build the giant display, schedule the melon demo, order the bin and give shoppers a reason to fill their cart. We've rounded up the varieties available, dive into this year's dry-farmed melon crop (why they matter, how they're grown and why one bite usually turns curious eaters into believers) and why August is the month to go big.
NW Melon Season is Off to a Tasty Start
Melons have been on since May from Mexico and California and as the Northwest season kicks off, OGC’s melon buyer Rachel Pienovi is sourcing delicious melon from growers in Hermiston, Oregon and Eltopia, Washington.
Northwest Open Pint Blueberries Are On
Blueberries are one of the flavors of summer, and at Mckay Creek Farm in North Plains, Oregon, the season is just getting underway.
Grape Toolkit
From organic seedless table grapes and candy seedless specialty varieties to Northwest-grown options and Ladybug Brand recyclable grape totes, there’s a lot to know and love about this tasty category.
Chase This Season’s Juiciest Fruit
OGC Stone Fruit Buyer Brian Keogh spends months talking to growers, evaluating varieties and sourcing the season's best fruit. Head over to OGC’s blog and watch “BK” slice and bite into the varieties turning heads, staining shirts and reminding us why summer tastes so good.
Harvesting Wisdom: Unlock the Magic of Melons
Organic melons kick off their season in April/May from Mexico with a limited selection. As harvest moves north to California, two primary regions contribute: the desert offers fruit in June/July, while the Central Valley starts in early June and extends through the fall. The Northwest season begins in mid-July, peaks in early August, and concludes as the weather cools in early September. OGC wraps up the season with a limited offering from Mexico in October and November.
Bring On the Bold Flavor of Asian Greens
Download point of purchase shelf signage so shoppers have also the info they need about these great greens.
Get Ready for Grilling
Make way for the melon bin and get the briquettes front and center: Memorial Day Weekend will be here before you know it, marking the unofficial start of summer and kicking off the season’s grilling holidays. Shoppers will be looking for the classic barbecue fare, organic Northwest grown goods to add some regional flair and anything to eat on or around a hot dog. Don’t wait to stock up on the flavors of the season:
Stock Up on Mother’s Day Essentials
Mother’s Day is just over a week away, and shoppers are starting to scheme an elaborate brunch or special breakfast in bed. Make sure all the moms in your neck of the woods are spoiled by packing your department full of festive favorites.
Earth Week 2026
We’re out in the field with Dr. Shannon Cappellazzi of Oregon State University, getting hands-on with a fresh pull of organic cover crop and soil.
Load Up on Cinco Essentials
Uno, dos, tres, cuatro... Cinco de Mayo is just over two weeks away. Make sure your department is stocked with all the holiday staples and a few extra treats to make it pop.
Harvesting Wisdom: Margin, Waste and the Art of Produce
Managing a profitable produce department is no easy feat. It’s not just displaying beautiful fruits and veggies and watching them sell. Produce work moves fast. Things change by the hour, and the pace means mistakes large and small happen. The key to success? Carefully managing margin so sales make up for inevitable waste—but that’s a whole lot easier said than done.
Come for the fresh seafood, stay for the zingy salads at Pal's
Take a Trip to Hayden Island for Seafood and a Side of Picturesque Views
Start Spring Off Right
Hit the refresh button with new merchandising, revived promo strategies and a lineup of specialty items that show off the full glory and bounty of the season. Go ahead, have a spring fling with fresh finds from Northwest growers and beyond.
Organically Grown Company (OGC) Introduces Plastic-Free Net Bags
Can fruits and veggies finally ditch the plastic net bag? Organically Grown Company (OGC) is piloting a sustainable breakthrough: plastic-free mesh bags made from beechwood fibers.
Organically Grown Company wins award, gains traction with its plastic-free net bags
Learn about this innovation in produce—recyclable, compostable bags made from cellulosic yarn derived from beechwood trees grown in FSC-certified forests.