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Top Selling Category

By Mark Mulcahy

Does it seem as if you are seeing more people in your local store shopping for organic groceries and Melissa’s Organic Produce these days? Well you probably aren’t the only one noticing this trend. All across the country organic food sales are up, according to the latest statistics from the Organic Trade Association.
  • Sales of organic products in the United States jumped to $35.1 billion in 2013, up 11.5% from the previous year’s $31.5 billion and the fastest growth rate in five years.
  • Produce category continues to lead the sector with $11.6 billion in sales, up 15% from 2012.
  • 3 out of 4 conventional grocery stores now carry organic food.
Boy oh boy, is that an eye opener. Now here’s my favorite statistic: fresh fruits and vegetables have been the top selling category of organically grown food since the organic food industry started over 3 decades ago. Yahoo! Once again organic produce leads the way!
Image of Organic Strawberries
But this amazing growth couldn’t have happened without the dedicated farmers and quality distributors like Melissa’s who, from the very beginning, have provided stores with the finest quality organic produce available. And speaking of great organic produce, May is a favorite month of mine because Organic Strawberries are readily available and full of sweetness. And Green Garlic, Spring Onions, and Spring Greens are here to brighten up any springtime dish.
Image of Organic Leeks
Green Garlic is young garlic that looks and is used more like green onions, only it has a wonderful mild garlic flavor. I love spring garlic in just about everything I make this time of year. I dice it up and add it to guacamole. I also add it to miso soup, along with shiitake mushrooms and baked chicken or tofu. I especially like it in Sunday omelets or egg salads. Spring Onions are another favorite because of their mild sweetness and fresh flavor. If you like onions on a sandwich but don’t care for the heat, these are the ones for you. Because they are picked early and haven’t been cured they have more moisture, which means less sulfur that causes the heat. You can’t keep them as long, as they haven’t develop their dry protective skin, so only buy what you can use in a few days and keep them in the refrigerator. Spring onions add a refreshing lift to any Mother’s Day salad and are wonderful in stir-fries with spring garlic and baby bok choy.

These are only a few of the fantastic springtime organic fruits and vegetables Melissa’s has to offer and it’s shaping up to be a wonderful summer season as well.
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