Produce Talk

Organic food and ingredients laid out on a table in bowls by Castellini

What is the Definition of Organic Food?

November 22, 2021

The term organic has gained popularity lately, but some people may not understand what organic food means exactly. We may characterize most agricultural history as organic. In the last few decades, farmers introduced a considerable supply of non-organic foods into the food supply. In the United States, organic foods are gaining popularity as they’re often…

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Seasonal Selections

October 5, 2020

After a hot summer, consumers look forward to the arrival the cooler temperatures of fall and the signature seasonal flavors. To help meet consumer demands, we’ve added many items to order guides to promote seasonal items. Check out this week’s Produce Talk for more information on new seasonal items and current supply conditions in our…

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Record Temperatures in Salinas Valley Growing Region

September 14, 2020

Growers in the Salinas Valley, CA, continue to endure the lasting impact of a second wave of record breaking heat. This coupled with the aftermath of the recent River Fires that the Salinas Valley growing region experienced just weeks ago, is creating less than ideal harvesting conditions for both workers and the product being grown.…

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Castellini Electronic Show Book Now Open!

August 7, 2020

The Castellini Produce & Floral Electronic Show Book is now OPEN! As the first wave of the pandemic began to hit our nation and our industry began to feel the significant disruption caused by the Coronavirus, Castellini made the ultimate decision to forgo our traditional means for our annual in-person gathering to help protect the…

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NATIONAL BLUEBERRY MONTH

July 10, 2020

July is National Blueberry Month! This once wild berry became domesticated during the early 1900s. Native to North America, blueberries are grown in 35 out of 50 states, which translates into supplying roughly 95% of the entire world’s crop. Check out this week’s Produce Talk for Market Updates and a real-time look into current supply…

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The Heart of Local & Market Updates!

July 3, 2020

We’re right in the heart of the local growing season! Check out what we currently have on hand from local farms and this week’s Market Update for a real-time look into current supply conditions, trends, and market news for the most common produce items in demand this week! Read More

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Inspiring Buying Habits: Lessons From Specialty Health Food Stores

March 9, 2019

The concept of specialty health food stores has been around for a long time. One might argue that the initial idea was introduced in the 1920’s. Fast forward to today, with the explosive growth of next generation specialty store concepts, and it’s not hard to see that these customized retail outlets are delivering unique value…

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Healthy Foods Proven to Impact Your Health & Wellness

February 22, 2019

February is Heart Health Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States; every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. The good news is that heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy food choices and proactively manage their health conditions. In fact,…

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Key Takeaways from GOPEX 2019

February 8, 2019

The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Exposition & Conference (GOPEX) was created as a direct response to the rapidly increasing consumer demand for organic produce and to offer a unique learning experience for those who work in the industry. GOPEX provides a setting for the industry’s leading growers, distributors, packers, marketers and retailers to engage with…

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Valentine’s Day Items & Trends that Inspire Transactions

January 31, 2019

Unlike Christmas and birthdays, shoppers do not typically plan ahead for Valentine’s Day. Forty-six percent of consumers say they will start shopping in early February for their loved ones; however, the majority of spending for Valentine’s Day takes place the day before and the day of the actual holiday. But with Valentine’s Day falling on…

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