Purple Sprouting Broccoli marks the shift to spring
Unlike the green broccoli we know (and some of us love), purple sprouting broccoli looks a little like a carnival crop, producing a smaller, flattish main head and numerous side shoots. The cold temperature brings out the sweetness and the side shoots are particularly tender. Think of it as green broccoli’s younger, flashier sibling.
Build a Produce Pot o’ Gold
Eaters celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with some important produce items, and the gold and rainbows of the holiday create fun merchandising opportunities.
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.
Ladybug Brand Purple Sprouting Broccoli Toolkit
The darling of colorful crucifers, Purple Sprouting broccoli (PSB), is getting ready to make its spring-time debut! Use this collection of resources to help educate your staff and shoppers.
Import Pear Toolkit
This months-long season offers a variety of sizes and colors to incorporate into lush pear displays and plenty of delicious flavor and texture for fresh eating and incorporating into recipes.
Hoping to learn more about import pears, pick up merchandising tips or get your hands on downloadable POP to educate shoppers and drive sales? We have a toolkit for that!
Asian Greens 101 with OGC
After a successful trial in April, it’s clear that shoppers can’t get enough Asian greens. Eaters are grabbing bunches to explore a world of texture and color.
Gorgeous NW Grown Greens
Available now in steady volume, be sure to bring in plenty of these greens and remind shoppers they’re nutritious, delicious and grown organically by small-to-medium-sized Northwest farms.
Stunning Spring Picks Bring Excitement
There’s plenty of springtime goodness thanks to our growers in California and the Northwest. Check out this list, and bring plenty of color, texture and flavor into the department!
Start Planning for Mother’s Day with These Must-Haves
With the Mother’s Day holiday weekend just two weeks away, shoppers have meals that celebrate mom on their minds. Be sure to get stocked up with the fresh organic picks they’re craving for brunches, lunches and bevvies. There are some great opportunities for promotions and a couple tight items to be aware of, so scan this list, sharpen your pencil and order up!
Gem™ Avocado is Back!
These delicious California-grown avocados were a big hit last year, and we’ve been fielding lots of “are they here yet” calls from fans. Well, the wait is nearly over!
Meet the Newest Member of the Ladybug Brand Family: Organic Sugar Snap Peas
A year-round supply of sweet, snackable organic Sugar Snap peas is now available in convenient 8 oz. grab-and-go bags from Ladybug Brand™!
NW Purple Sprouting Broccoli & Rhubarb—They’re On!
This spring has been a big hurry up and wait for organic PSB and we waited with eager anticipation for the first rhubarb harvest. But we can officially call it...the wait is over for these two Northwest-grown favorites!
NW Purple Sprouting Broccoli Update: Soon!
Typically available by mid- to late-March, this season it will be mid-April before we see the first trickles.
Stock Up for Seasonal Feasts & Easter Meals
Signs of spring and the upcoming Easter holiday have shoppers making grocery lists for seasonal and celebratory meals. Expect a lot of foot traffic in the produce department as eaters look for their favorite spring produce. Be prepared to inspire and delight with displays packed with plenty of these delicious organic fruits and vegetables.
Spring is in the Air & Popping Up on OGC’s Dock
It’s been a cold, wet winter, but with the official March 20th milestone just a couple of days away, we’re ready to proclaim — it’s spring!
Despite a slow start for Northwest crops, there are still options popping up from growers in Oregon and Washington. And, with a little help from our friends in California and Mexico, while we wait for the Northwest to catch up, spring displays can confidently be built to attract eaters and inspire seasonal meals.
Here are some tasty organic items that spell spring!
Entice Shoppers with Colorful Varietal Veg
Vegetables in striking colors are sure to brighten up these wet, final days of winter and inspire creative meals. Bring in these attractive options to add interest to wet racks and menus.
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.
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!
Stock Up for Cinco & Mother’s Day, Too!
May brings more celebratory meals, this time calling for food with a latin flare and something lovely for mothers and maternal figures. With Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day falling just days apart, produce departments will be buzzing with shoppers including plenty of additions to their weekly grocery haul. Be prepared with OGC’s Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day checklists!