MONTEREY, CA - One of the largest retailers of organic food in the United States is joining the Organic Produce Network (OPN) and California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) at the second annual Organic Growers Summit (OGS) this winter. Costco will sponsor the two half-day events, held December 12-13, in Monterey, California, providing certified organic farmers and growers the opportunity to meet with Costco buyers.

“OGS is delighted Costco is coming back to show their support of the certified organic farming community,” noted OPN Co-Founder Tonya Antle, in a press release. “ This is a great opportunity to have organic farmers get in front of Costco to tell their story as part of the second annual OGS."

A joint production between California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and Organic Produce Network (OPN), the Organic Growers Summit will bring together organic growers, producers, and processors for two days of education, information, and networking opportunities with organic production supply chain and service providers.

“Costco is excited to be back at the Organic Grower Summit this year. We are committed to meeting directly with organic farmers, who are truly on the front lines of bringing top quality organic products to market. We appreciate the work OPN has done in putting together this unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with those responsible for actually growing organic products," said Heather Shavey, Assistant Vice President - General Merchandise Manager for Costco. "Our buying team is looking forward to learning more about organic production, hearing about new product innovations and building new supplier opportunities to meet the growing demand for organics for our shoppers.”

In a press release issued by the OPN and CCOF, the organizations note that Costco's recommitment to meet with organic growers showcases the success of the Meet the Grower event in 2017, which in its first year, allowed for over 60 growers to meet with Costco buyers. The "Meet the Grower" session provides certified organic farmers and grower representatives the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Costco organic produce, wine, beer, dairy, meat, and grain buyers to discuss their operations and products.

Certified organic growers, producers, and processors interested in making an appointment to meet with Costco can register as an attendee at www.organicgrowersummit.com/registration. Interested parties can then select the category of Grower/Producer/Processor and click on the "Meet with Costco" button for further information.

For more on fresh produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Organic Growers SummitCostcoOrganic Produce NetworkCalifornia Certified Organic Growers