This is a superset of a prior question I asked earlier today about
getting blueberries.  I guess if you are able to answer this question,
you can get the fee for both this question and the blueberry question.

I would like a complete list of companies from which I can order for
delivery (whether local delivery or otherwise) certified organic
produce where I can specify *the exact set* of certified organic
fruits and vegetables I want and get a very thorough selection of
products.  I am near Seattle (specifically downtown Bellevue).

I have purchased often in the past from these local stores:

Nature's Pantry
QFC
Larry's Market

I have looked into the Pioneer Organics delivery service, but have not
used them, because they seem to permit only minor customization of
their "standard mix" (e.g., removing certain items) and I had to
accept items I may not want.

I would like to be able to buy at least the following: apples,
blueberries, strawberries, plums, grapefruit, oranges, red and/or
green bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, watercress,
other lettuces or greens, onions, garlic, tomatoes, mushrooms.  (Some
of these are not really fruits or vegetables).  The more choice beyond
the above, the better.  Quality and freshness of the produce is of the
greatest importance to me.

It would be most convenient to buy everything from one source or as
few as possible, but I am willing to purchase from as many sources as
necessary to cover all of the different products that I want.  I am
willling to purchase some locally if necessary and have some
delivered.  My goal is to have a *complete selection* of all the
fruits and vegetables that I want year round, even if the particular
sources from which I am buying need to change depending upon the
season.  I am especially interested in any companies that will allow
me to order for delivery any produce that is not in season locally and
is therefore difficult or impossible to find in local stores.

If some of the above items are simply *impossible* to get from
anywhere because they are not available year-round, then please tell
me, and then I'd like to know how I can get at least as *complete
coverage as possible* (i.e., get every item for as much of the year as
it is available from anywhere in certified organic form).  I am most
interested in fresh fruits and vegetables, but would like the list to
also include all sources of frozen organic fruits and vegetables.

The quantity I am interested in ordering will probably be in the
ballpark of 20-50 pounds of produce per week.  I am willing to buy
from wholesalers or distributors if that is possible.

I would specifically like enough information that will make it easy
for to simply place orders for everything I want ASAP, without further
substantive work or research on my part.  For example, I don't want to
have to spend much time contacting and researching various companies
that are listed in an answer to figure out exactly what products each
particular company has and when they are available.  I'm not sure
exactly what format an answer needs to take to satisfy my conditions,
but I hope my needs are clear.  Please feel free to ask for
clarification.

Organic Trade Association has a Resource Directory
http://www.ota.com/online%20directory/Directory%20nest.htm
where you can find almost anything that has to do with organics,
including
wholesale and retail suppliers. All of the following claim they sell
Certified Organic Produce. I searched through their directory several
ways and came up with the following companies:

CF Fresh
Roger Wechsler, President 
P.O. Box 665 
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284-0665 
Shipping: 922 Third Street, Sedro-Wooley, WA 98284
Other Locations: P.O. Box 1862, Shingle Springs, CA 95682 (530)
676-9147
Phone: (360) 855-3197 Fax: (360) 855-2430 
e-mail: cff@cffresh.com 
web site: http://www.rootabaga.com 
Organic and transitional produce, juice, and commodity sales agency
representing North American growers. Importing organic and
transitional produce from Latin America. Worldwide exporter.

Pro Organics Marketing, Inc.
Debbie Boyle, President/CEO 
#4 324 Horner Avenue 
Toronto, ON M8W 1Z3 Canada 
Phone: (416) 252-3386, ext.16 Fax: (416) 252-3142 
Toll Free: (800) 461-1122 
e-mail: dboyle@proorganics.com 
web site: http://www.proorganics.com 
A nationwide distributor of organic food products, offering a full
line of top quality organic produce sourced locally and
internationally, with year round availability. We also distribute many
other manufactured organic products.
Products/Services: Wholesale to retailers, and foodservice,
export/import, shipper (own trucks).
Regions: Canada   USA    

Pacific Organic Produce
Division of: Pacific Organic 
Steve Akagaki, General Manager 
1311 Sutter Street, Suite 203 
San Francisco, CA 94109-5415 
Phone: (415) 673-5555 Fax: (415) 673-5585 
e-mail: treefruit@pacorg.com 
web site: http://www.pacorg.com 
We grow, source, pack, ship and sell high quality certified organic
and transitional fruit, representing growers and packers from the
Western U.S. and South America. We sell to customers throughout North
America and overseas.
Products/Services: Organic apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums,
cherries, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, apricots and selected
vegetables.
Regions: Asia   Canada   Europe   Pacific Rim   South America   USA

Oregon Organic Marketing, Inc.
Joe Gabriel, President 
P.O. Box 10266 
Eugene, OR 97440 
Shipping: 1473 Williamette St. Eugene, OR 97401 
Phone: (541) 687-9535 Fax: (541) 687-9536 
e-mail: produce@oregonorganic.com 
web site: http://www.oregonorganic.com 
Oregon Organic Marketing specializes in bringing the finest
organically grown produce to the fresh, processing and export markets.
Products/Services: Apples, pears, cherries, peaches, nectarines: Pure
Delight & Columbia Gorge. Potatoes: Fraserland. Onions: Red Rock,
Willow Wind. Tomatoes: Pure Delight. Broccoli: Red Rock, Fraserland.
Corn: Red Rock, Fraserland. Garlic: Christopher Ranch. All of the
growers we represent are certified as Organic Producers
Regions: Asia   Canada   Europe   Pacific Rim   USA    



Misionero Vegetables
Greg Gattis, Vice President, Sales & Marketing 
1129 Harkins Road 
Salinas, CA 93901-4407 
Phone: (831) 424-7063 Fax: (831) 424-0740 
Toll Free: (800) EAT SALAD 
e-mail: sales@misionero.com 
web site: http://www.misionero.com 
Year round grower and shipper of organic salads in bulk, retail and
food service packs. We also ship organic (romaine, green leaf, red
leaf, butter) lettuce, green onions and consolidate other organic
items.
Products/Services: Product Labels: Earth Greens, Salade du Soleil,
Misionero Vegetables. Services: grower, shipper, processor. Domestic
and international shipping available.
Regions: USA

Melissa's/World Variety Produce
Bill Schneider, Marketing Director 
P.O. Box 21127 
Los Angeles, CA 90021 
Shipping: 5325 South Soto Street, Vernon, CA 90058 
Phone: (888) 588-0151 ext. 274 Fax: (323) 584-7385 
Toll Free: (800) 468-7111 
e-mail: bills@melissas.com 
web site: http://www.melissas.com 
Melissa's is the nation's leading importer and distributor of exotic
produce and specialty foods.
Products/Services: Organic veggies and fruits; herbs; exotics; dried
fruits and nuts; garlic, onions and seasonings; international grains,
legumes and mushrooms; dried and fresh chilies; Asian marketplace;
gourmet pantry foods.
Mail Order: Yes
Regions: USA    

Grant Farms
Andy Grant, President 
1020 WCR 72 
Wellington, CO 80549 
Phone: (970) 568-7654 Fax: (970) 568-7655 
Toll Free: (877) 783-5381 
e-mail: andy@grantfarms.com 
web site: http://www.GrantFarms.com 
Certified organic vegetables, grain, and dry bean farm. Leading
growers of quality product.
Products/Services: "Owl Canyon" organic vegetables "Chinook" Organic
Beans.
Regions: Worldwide   

If you are satisfied with the information provided here (I'm sure at
least one company carries blueberrys) you may close your blueberry
question to avoid being charged for an answer. To close your question,
please log in to Google Answers and select the question you wish to
close. Then press the cancel button on that page.
If you are not satisfied with this informations please post a
clarification stating so and I will research is some more.
Thank you.

Search terms:
Certified Organic Produce
Organic Produce Suppliers
Organic Produce Marketing
Organic Associations
Organic Trade Associations

---

Request for Answer Clarification by johno101-ga on 14 Dec 2002 17:20 PST

Thank you, but this is insufficient information.  I have not attempted
to look further into any of the links yet, but just a list of
suppliers like this is something I could pretty easily have gotten. 
What I tried to make clear at the end of my last message is that I do
NOT want to spend any significant time looking at various sites and
making calls to find out what specific products people have and when
they have it.  I posted a pretty high price because I want all that
research work done for me.  I want confirmation of specific companies
that can deliver to me NOW, and year-round, fresh certified organic
produce of ALL the types I listed, including blueberries, plums, etc.,
many of which I cannot find here locally in stores.  Can you please
provide that information?  It sounds like you have not attempted to
find out any such specific information yet, because you are not
certain of a blueberry source (which is one of my urgent requests),
let alone all the other products I listed.  I would like one simple
outline or checklist that will allow me to order everything I need
with almost no further work.

I want a complete listing of not just names and links, but where I can
buy the ALL of the exact products I listed, with confirmation that
they are available year-round (and they must be able to deliver to my
location).

---

Clarification of Answer by wlk115-ga on 15 Dec 2002 12:52 PST

I am drafting an inquiry to be sent to suppliers and need more
information.
Is the 20-50 pounds a total of all produce items or are you looking
for 20 to 50 pounds of each item?

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Request for Answer Clarification by johno101-ga on 15 Dec 2002 13:23 PST

It is a total for all produce items for the week.  The number could be
a bit higher than that range also.  I'm not sure what the exact
breakdown per item would be right now, but I just wanted to give
people a ballpark idea of the magnitude of the order, i.e., that it
wasn't just a few pounds a week or hundreds of pounds.

Also, as far as delivery frequency, I think at least two or three
times a week might be necessary for some items that are very
perishable, especially the berries.  I mention this because I assume
it could affect the cost.

---

Clarification of Answer by wlk115-ga on 15 Dec 2002 18:01 PST

I have sent inquires to the following companies: 
CF Fresh 
Pro Organics Marketing, Inc. 
Pacific Organic Produce 
Oregon Organic Marketing, Inc. 
Misionero Vegetables 
Melissa's/World Variety Produce 
Grant Farms 
Arthur Harvey Farms 
Certified Pure Ingredients, Inc.
Driscoll Strawberry Associates
Lagier Ranches, Inc.
Elam's Organics
Heirloom Harvest Farm, Inc.
PAC Organic Fruit, LLC
Green Organic Vegetables, Inc.
H. Brooks & Company
JBJ Distributing, Inc.
Organically Grown Company

I’m not sure how to format the answer in a manner which would 
be acceptable to you except by naming the company and giving 
the list of items and the dates available. 

Example:
XYZ Farms
Apples: 
..Gold Delicious - Jan, Feb, Mar, April, May, June, -, -, -, Oct, Nov, Dec
..Red Delicious - Jan, Feb, Mar, April, May, June, -, -, -, Oct, Nov, Dec
Oranges:
..Valenicia - Jan, Feb, Mar, April, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Dec
..Navel - -, -, -, April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, -, -

If you don't want it formatted this way I need to know what 
format would be acceptable.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by johno101-ga on 15 Dec 2002 20:23 PST

Thanks for the update.  That's a good question about the format.  Here
would be a suggested format:

Company Name,Product,Jan,Feb,Mar,...,Dec

If any company names or product names have commas in them, you could
put quotes around them, or you can use a tab as a delimiter rather
than a comma.

Each month field value, Jan through Dec, can either be just a Y or N
(or T or F, or 1 or 0), or if you are getting pricing information from
them already and it's easy to put prices instead (for any given
product, you would have to use the same units for all companies of
couse, e.g., $/lb, and I guess there would have to be some list of
what the units are for each product if they are not all the same), and
you could use a price of $0 to represent unavailability.  But the
pricing is not necessary and is above the call of duty if it's not
easy to do based upon the type of information you are getting back
from these companies.

I'd be satisfied if I can just get a list that gives me complete
coverage of products year round, with the pricing information.  The
most difficult part I think is getting the out-of-season stuff from
somewhere in certifiied organic form.  I look forward to hearing from
you.

By the way, for data entry purposes, it might be easiest for you to
create an Excel spreadsheet with the above information (if you have
Excel) and then just save/export it to text in order to post.  In any
case, I will probably import it into Excel.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by johno101-ga on 16 Jan 2003 21:27 PST

wlk115-ga,

I assume you never found any sources that could deliver any reasonably
sized orders to individuals.  I waited as long as I could to see if
you might be able to locate helpful information and then requested a
refund today, because I thought the 30 days would run out by tomorrow,
but it's telling me it's already too late, probably because the 30
days runs from the original answer, not the last activity.  Can you
please process the refund yourself?  If that is not possible and I
need to make a special request myself, please let me know anyway. 
Thanks.

---

Clarification of Answer by wlk115-ga on 13 Mar 2003 15:57 PST

no futher infomation

UPDATE: I have heard back from several of the companies, and it is 
not looking good, so far none will deal in small quantities, (under 1 case 
per item) three of them only deal in pallet size orders and 2 of them sugested 
that you contact Charlie's (which you have already done). 
 As I get more information I will post it.

Thanks for the update.  I obviously didn't have much luck in my
initial efforts, which is why I posted the question.  I'd be very
pleased if you are able to find suppliers that can meet my needs.