BAKERSFIELD, CA - We are entering the late-summer months, bringing with them new crops that will carry us through early fall. With back-to-school season aligning with the harvest of fresh fruit and vegetables, I tapped Creekside Organics to hear what we can expect to see this season.

What offerings will be in season come late summer/early fall, and what are your expectations in terms of volume and quality?

Bianca Kaprielian, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Creekside Organics: “It starts with our Thomcord grape program that begins in late July and runs through early October. Thomcords, sold under our Fruit World brand, are one of our most anticipated seasonal offerings.

Alongside Thomcords, our organic melon program remains strong through October. The Creekside assortment includes yellow seedless mini watermelon, dino melon, cantaloupe, heirloom cantaloupe, Galia, and honeydew. It’s a solid combination of familiar favorites and specialty varieties, so retailers can build creative displays that encourage shoppers to explore and trade up.”

Brenda Haught, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Creekside Organics: “Fruit naturally leads the back-to-school conversation, but vegetables also play an important role in helping families create convenient, healthy routines. Cherry tomatoes, carrots, sugar snap peas, and celery are not only in season, but they’re also versatile, portable, and easy for lunchboxes, after-school snacks, or weeknight meal prep.

From a volume and quality standpoint, our focus is on providing customers with consistent programs and a dependable mix of everyday staples and seasonal items. Late summer is a particularly abundant time in organic produce, and we expect strong quality across our programs. For retailers, it's an opportunity to make vegetables feel just as convenient and approachable as fruit by highlighting items that are easy to snack on, pack and incorporate into everyday meals.”

In what ways does organic demand shift during back-to-school season, and how can retailers take advantage? 

Bianca Kaprielian: “The back-to-school season is when families reestablish routines that last most of the year, making it one of the most important merchandising opportunities on the calendar. Products that shoppers discover and enjoy in August can become staples throughout the school year. Strategic retailers can use the back-to-school window to build long-term loyalty within the produce department.

Households that regularly pack lunches care more about buying organic*, and they spend more on groceries overall. Back-to-school season is an ideal time to reinforce organic produce as an everyday habit and not just an occasional purchase.”

Brenda Haught: “Shoppers are planning their trip and balancing nutrition, convenience, and value under tighter schedules than in summer. Visits to the store become more of a mission, and merchandising matters. Clear signage, educational messaging, and colorful displays that highlight snack-ready or lunchbox-friendly organic produce make purchase decisions much easier.

Beyond promoting what’s in season, retailers can highlight products that meet everyday needs for busy families. With lunchbox vegetables and seasonal fruit in one destination display, you can simplify shopping trips and increase basket size while showing the breadth of the organic department.”

Can you tell me more about the role women-led businesses are playing in shaping a more sustainable supply chain?

Bianca Kaprielian: “Our certification from Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is part of who we are, but what matters to retailers is the way we do business every day. Being women-led has helped to shape our culture of collaboration, communication, and long-term relationships with growers and retail partners. It makes Creekside programs dependable and transparent while helping us to solve problems proactively. Those are qualities retailers rely on when planning promotional periods like back-to-school.”

Brenda Haught: “Women are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the produce industry, bringing different perspectives and leadership styles to every part of the supply chain. This year, Bianca and I were both honored to be named among The Packer’s 2026 Women in Produce, a recognition that is especially meaningful because it celebrates the contributions women are making across our industry.

Being women-led has helped shape a culture built around collaboration, open communication, and strong, long-term relationships with our growers, customers, and partners. We are always thinking about the long term: how we can support organic agriculture, strengthen our grower partnerships, and build a business that will thrive for generations to come.”

Is there anything else we should highlight as back-to-school season gets underway?

Brenda Haught: “As families restart their school routines, the best way to influence purchasing habits is by making organic produce easy to discover, easy to understand, and easy to enjoy.

Simple merchandising strategies do it best, such as grouping lunchbox essentials together. Limited-time seasonal favorites, like Thomcord grapes, add timely excitement to the set. Good signage creates a produce department that educates and saves families time and steers them to the healthy choices they’re looking for.”

Bianca Kaprielian: “One of my favorite parts of our Thomcord grape program is something we call Thomcord Tales. Every package includes a card inviting shoppers to text us directly. They ask when the grapes will be back, tell us where they found them, share recipes, and even send photos of their kids enjoying them. During back-to-school season, when families are looking for healthy snacks to pack and eat, that kind of engagement is really special. It turns a package of grapes into an experience, offers a way for kids to feel more connected to their food, and creates excitement that lasts well beyond the first purchase.”

The back-to-school season is sure to bring an abundance of produce aisle opportunities. Stick with us as we report on the latest and greatest.

_{* “Back to School 2025: School Meals and Great Deals," Numerator, Aug. 13, 2025. https://numerator.com/resources/blog/back-to-school-2025}