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Melissa’s Produce increases organic offerings to please consumersMelissa’s Produce increases organic offerings to please consumers
Organics are a growing part of Melissa’s, one of the nation’s largest specialty produce distributors. Find out which products are trending and where the company is investing.
4 Min Read
Organic produce is an increasing share of business at Melissa’s Produce. The brand introduced organic produce 22 years ago and it now accounts for 10% of its sales.All photos from Melissa's Produce
At a Glance
- Consumers seek more high-nutrient organic produce, such as sweet potatoes, and unusual varieties of tropical fruits.
- Melissa’s Produce continuously expands its organic offerings, importing hundreds of SKUs to meet demand.
- The brand is investing in a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the organic global supply chain.
Melissa’s Produce/World Variety Produce ranks among the largest specialty produce distributors in the United States, serving the global market from its warehouse facilities located outside of Los Angeles, California.
“We have a product listing of over 1,500 different items and everything is a category for us, whether it’s an Asian line, Latin line, tropical line, herbal line, potato line or organics,” said Robert Schueller, director of public relations for the Vernon, California-based company.
Founded in 1984 by Joe and Sharon Hernandez in the lunchroom of a modest rented produce warehouse, the business began with just three telephones and four chairs. They named it after their daughter Melissa, who still plays a key role in the company. Within a few years, it expanded significantly, occupying a newly renovated 330,000-square-foot office and warehouse complex, complete with a state-of-the-art CCOF/QAI Certified Organic Packing Facility.
Today, the company is a premier distributor of specialty fruits and vegetables, providing a diverse array of unique and exotic items to grocery stores and restaurants nationwide. It is dedicated to delivering the freshest, highest-quality produce while consistently innovating and introducing new and exciting products for consumers.
Robert Schueller, director of public relations, Melissa's produce
Double-digit organic growth
Schueller remembers starting the organics line about 22 years ago. If product isn’t in-season domestically, the company imports 300-350 organic SKUs to meet the demand. “Organics is a growing part of the business we do at Melissa’s,” he said. “We see double-digit growth year after year.”
One of the biggest areas of increase has been organic ginger, with 22% growth, and organic melons with triple-digit increases. Organic papaya also grew by 67% in the past year.
The company has a long grower network, both domestic and global. The focus on the organic program is to fill in gaps to make items available on a year-round basis, just as it does with its conventional line.
“Currently, organics represents about 10% of what we do here at Melissa’s, but 22 years ago, it was less than 2% with just 60-70 SKUs introduced,” Schueller said. “Coming under the USDA Organic label has helped us become a better supplier.”
In 2024, Melissa’s introduced new, eye-catching totes for organic plums, peaches and nectarines to keep up with the rising demand of stone fruit.
“Stone fruits consistently rank among the top organic produce choices,” Schueller said. “We’ve built this program by working directly with top California organic stone fruit growers. Knowing where food is grown is important for today’s consumers, and our packaging proudly displays a ‘California-grown’ distinction.”
Meeting demand for “different”
In July, the company introduced a line of organic baby yams and sweet potatoes at Organic Produce Summit in Monterey.
“We’ve observed a surge in consumer interest for nutrient-dense options like sweet potatoes, pushing demand for more unique varietals,” Schueller said. “We offer a really nice range of options, including bright purple baby Charleston sweet potatoes and sweet, nutty baby Murasakis.”
In October and November, Melissa’s offered organic sweet pumpkin persimmons, named for a sweeter Fuyu variety persimmon with a pumpkin orange skin. They also offered organic cinnamon persimmons, known as “maru,” which do not taste of cinnamon, but have brown spots reminiscent of sprinkled cinnamon.
Melissa’s organic pink grapefruit will be available through April; organic crimson gold apples and organic Arkansas black apples will be offered through January. Organic fresh cranberries are available through January, while dried cranberries are offered year-round.
Organic is part of a holistic, sustainable business model
The company is also investing heavily in a sustainability program within its organic line to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the global supply chain.
“At Melissa’s, we hold the belief that fresh, delicious produce shouldn’t come at the cost of our planet or the well-being of our people,” Schueller said. “From collaborating with growers who align with our values to effectively reducing food waste and supporting our community in accessing fresh, healthy food, our commitment runs deep. This approach isn’t new for us; it’s been the core of our operations since day one.”
Another big part of the company is its food service division, which has evolved into a comprehensive operation that caters to culinary professionals with a wide range of organic offerings and items beyond produce. This division also supplies dairy products, processed items, edible flowers, dried fruits and mushrooms, IQF items, juices, purees and a substantial selection of other grocery products.
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