(NaturalNews) Costco can be a little unpredictable when it comes to embracing natural, healthy foods. In 2015, there was a petition against the company to urge it not to sell GM salmon and the company has also been under scrutiny for salmonella-contaminated chicken. But now it seems that Costco might actually be doing something right – something that not only benefits the US consumer but also benefits organic farmers.

As reported by The Seattle Times, Costco is finding new and creative ways to meet its customers' growing demand for organic produce. Organic foods is one of the fastest growing categories in food sales, and Costco is really trying to keep pace with this exponential increase in demand.

According to CEO Craig Jelinek, "[Costco] cannot get enough organics to stay in business day in and day out." Therefore, the new strategy involves Costco actually playing a part in building this food supply, and the company is developing a variety of initiatives to help boost the supply of organic food.
 

Costco's new initiatives

Costco is going to work with the farmers themselves to help them buy the land they need and equipment necessary to grow organic products. The company will be lending money to farmers, starting with San Diego-based Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce (A&W), who need the money to buy equipment and 1,200 acres of land in Mexico.



The concept first came about when senior vice president of Costco's fresh foods, Jeff Lyons, was enjoying a tour of the A&W operations. Costco was already aware of 1,200 acres of land in San Quintin, Baja California, that had been fallow for many years and was up for sale. It was available to grow organic food immediately, and this gave Lyons the idea, as reported by The Seattle Times.

A&W had a wealth of experience growing organic fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes, and wanted to purchase the land but didn't have the funds available. Lyons saw an opportunity and decided that it made strategic sense for Costco to loan the money, taking into account the increasing demand for organic produce and a long-term goal for Costco – to attract new and retain existing customers.

The company hopes to expand the initiative and ensure a greater, more consistent supply of organic food. At present, the demand continues to increase, yet the supply cannot be maintained. This concept could pave the way for a healthier, more organic future for the US consumer.

Costco is also working with a poultry plant in Alabama that raises the 83 million rotisserie chickens it sold last year and has recently bought cattle to be raised on organic fields in Nebraska to ensure a constant supply for its organic ground beef.