Wilbur Ellis Carves Niche in Organic Market

After 100 years of providing trusted advice, products, and services to conventional farmers, Wilbur Ellis has been expanding its offerings to embrace the organic market.

Wilbur Ellis uses agronomist-salespeople to advise growers on soil amendments, technology, pest management, and other strategies farmers around the country can use to boost their yields.

“Wilbur Ellis is made of a group of trusted advisors who work with growers, always looking for innovative solutions, products, technology, and methodologies to help their organic growers farm more sustainably,” said Gina Colfer, sustainable solutions manager at Wilbur Ellis Organics. Colfer was hired in 2015 to help develop the organics program at Wilbur Ellis.

Gina Colfer, Sustainable Solutions Manager, Wilbur Ellis Organics

While most of the family-owned company’s extensive history focused on conventional agriculture, organics is the future for Wilbur Ellis. The company maintains its commitment to conventional agriculture while carving a niche in the organics market. However, Colfer said these two ideas don’t need to be kept apart as “crossover products” can boost sustainability and regenerative aspects on any farm.

“We’ve put a lot of energy into developing new organic products,” Colfer said. “Even though these products are organically approved, they’re great crossover products to help complement a conventional farm’s sustainable phase.”

Wilbur Ellis is headquartered in Salinas, California, often called the "Salad Bowl of the World" for its leading specialty crop production, including lettuce, brassicas, and strawberries. California is a “hot spot” for developing the organics market, but the company is making a national push to embrace organics.

“We’ve put a lot of energy into developing new organic products. Even though these products are organically approved, they’re great crossover products to help complement a conventional farm’s sustainable phase.” - Gina Colfer

“Organics is in demand, and we’ve had growers come to us asking for organic help,” Colfer said. “As a company, we need to service our growers. If they're expressing an interest in organics and wanting help, we want to step up as a company.”

Wilbur Ellis offers several new products in their organics portfolio, from fertilizers to a crab shell soil amendment. One innovative product promoted by Wilbur Ellis includes Romeo, a new biofungicide that induces the plant’s systemic resistance. Romeo is used as a preventative for different foliar pathogens and acts similarly to a vaccine, “introducing plants to a simulated pathogenic fungus and boosting their internal responses,” according to Ellis's website.

Wilbur Ellis also offers the full line of BenVireo nutrient management products, from the BenVireo FoliSentials 3-0-3 liquid fertilizer to iron, calcium, and magnesium foliar applications. Colfer also mentioned Nutrio Unlock, a product described as a “biological catalyst” that builds root architecture and enhances nutrient mineralization.

To maintain a commitment to sustainability, Wilbur Ellis attempts to source products as closely as possible to the farmer, cutting down on pollution related to transportation.

“Organics is in demand, and we’ve had growers come to us asking for organic help. As a company, we need to service our growers. If they're expressing an interest in organics and wanting help, we want to step up as a company.” - Gina Colfer

“As a company we’re really trying to source products more sustainably and be cognizant of shipping and where product comes from,” Colfer said. “We really need to figure out how to farm more sustainably.”

In addition to products, Wilbur Ellis also strives to be a trusted provider of innovative agricultural services to growers.

“We’re trying to concentrate on helping our growers build both below-ground and above-ground biodiversity,” Colfer said.

Advisors with Wilbur Ellis help growers design and plant beneficial habitat and source the right cover crops, fertilizers, and soil amendments. This helps build the carbon and nitrogen ratios in the soil, improving biological diversity, said Colfer.

“As a company we’re really trying to source products more sustainably and be cognizant of shipping and where product comes from. We really need to figure out how to farm more sustainably.” - Gina Colfer

Farmers can also turn to Wilbur Ellis for leading-edge technology. Drones can help with foliar nutrient applications, soil mapping, and irrigation monitoring using moisture probes without the farmer needing to learn to operate drones or access the proper licensing.

“We are bringing them new information and technology to help them farm more sustainably, giving them tools in their toolbox,” Colfer said.

Example of a root tip in a soil with microbial diversity interactions and the complex system that exist below ground

Wilbur Ellis operates 165 branches throughout the United States, with advisors consulting with farmers at every location. These hundreds of agronomist-salespeople use an internal network of organics expertise to support their farmers, Colfer said.

Growers match with a local advisor from an in-house team of agronomists. These advisors collaborate closely to help growers with pest control and fertilizer needs.

“We are bringing them new information and technology to help them farm more sustainably. Giving them tools in their toolbox.” - Gina Colfer

As Wilbur Ellis charts its path in the organics space, the farmers willing to partner with this company and explore sustainable options provide momentum and inspiration for this new endeavor, said Colfer.

“It’s really rewarding to work with growers who are interested in trying new things on fall acreage,” Colfer said. “They’re not betting the farm on new technology but want to try them.”

Gina in cover crop

While there is no cookie-cutter approach to organics, Colfer said Wilbur Ellis’s future in organic and regenerative agriculture is bright.

“We want to be the go-to company for sustainable and regenerative growers,” said Colfer. “That’s really going to be our focus in the future.”