Latest News From Apples

Stronger-than-expected yields have been reported for New York’s apple harvest, according to Lyndonville, N.Y.-based United Apple Sales.

Retailers, produce managers, merchandisers and marketers can also use the board trend for apple season, in making promotional campaigns, in print at point of sale or online at the virtual store and on social.

St. Paul, Minn.-based Northwestern Fruit Co. Inc. will kick off the fall with an extensive assortment of products, including local and homegrown zucchini, yellow squash, corn, green beans and peppers.

Honeybear Brands is bringing back its “All the Feels” price look-up (PLUs) fruit stickers for a limited time this fall, says Kristi Harris, Honeybear Brands brand manager.  

With orchards spanning Washington state from the Columbia River to the Canadian border, Domex Superfresh Growers offers a full range of apple varieties.

Evans Fruit has remodeled its Yakima plant with a new 40-lane advanced packing line, said Scott Hennessey, sales representative for Evans Fruit, Yakima, Wash.

Smaller gala sizes in Washington state will open the door to increased retail promotions of bagged apples, according to Brianna Shales, director of marketing for Stemilt Growers, Wenatchee, Wash.

Oppy expects a good quality season for its proprietary apples, says Roger Aguirre, director of apples and pears for the Oppenheimer Group (Oppy).

Finding varieties that appeal to consumers is one way the leading state for U.S. apple production continues to innovate and evolve.

More erratic growing conditions in the last few years have captured the attention of Washington apple industry observers.

With an excellent quality crop now being harvested, Yakima, Wash.-based FirstFruits Marketing is looking forward to connecting consumers with Washington apples.

The Cosmic Crisp apple is a rising star for Washington apple marketers, but how high it will soar is still a question, marketers say.

Yakima, Wash.-based FirstFruits Farms has started its 10th year of growing and selling the Sweetie branded apple.

Giving apple consumers great quality fruit goes a long way to ensuring repeat retail purchases, despite the friction of inflation in the produce department, Washington apple marketers say.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers is expanding sales and distribution of the proprietary Juici apple variety, said Dan Davis, director of business development for Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers.

While the state’s 2022 fresh apple crop may be shorter than some years, the Wenatchee, Wash.-based Washington Apple Commission is gearing up for another big year of promoting fresh apple exports.

Hazel Technologies, Inc.’s Hazel 100 bin sachets have become a versatile and reliable solution for small, midsize, and even larger apple growers and cold storage operators, according to a news release.

CMI Orchards has advanced several positions within the company in preparing for a period of expected tremendous growth.

Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit Co. has announced the marketer will have Sugar Bee apples for the 2022 crop marketing season.

Fruit technology solution provider Hectre is finding industry acceptance with Spectre Top Down, a tool the company reports is capable of sizing more than 5,000 apples straight off the truck at receiving stations.

Elgin, Minn.-based  Honeybear Brands reports it is marking progress on its year-two sustainability results.

The pests were first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and have since spread to 11 states in the eastern U.S.

Daryl Johnston will serve as Okanagan's vice president of sales and business development, while Don Westcott has been promoted to senior vice president of the company.

With shorter trips for distribution to high-density population centers, Eastern apple shippers benefit from a reduction in fuel costs and emissions.

CHICAGO — With apologies to Mother Nature, there is just one boss for apple marketers and retailers, one Walmart executive believes.

CHICAGO — Reflecting reduced expectations in Washington state but an upward revision in the Michigan forecast, the U.S. Apple Association estimate for the 2022 U.S. apple crop is down 4.2% from the USDA's estimate.

CHICAGO — Describing how consumers are adjusting their shopping habits in response to inflation, retail consultant Tom Barnes outlined strategies for success for marketers and retailers.

The U.S. apple crop for 2022 is projected at 10.7 billion pounds or 255 million bushels, 2.7% higher compared with last year’s production but 3.5% less than the five-year average.

CHICAGO — Praised by his peers for his passion for industry advocacy, Phil Glaize Jr., owner of Glaize Apples, Winchester, Va., is The Packer’s 2022 Apple Person for All Seasons.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers is back on the road this year with The Great American Rave Race, according to a news release.

How to merchandise the dizzying number of Eastern apple varieties to drive sales in the produce department.

The Washington fresh apple crop is projected at 108.7 million standard forty-pound boxes, an 11.1% decrease from 2021’s 122.3 million boxes, according to the Washington State Tree Fruit Association.

The largest apple producer on the East Coast, New York had a Hot Growing Summer. With the help of irrigation systems, the growing season did well for a fall harvest of apples sizing well in many varieties.

The Lansing-based Michigan Apple Committee is using social media, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, to build interest in the coming Michigan apple harvest, said Diane Smith, executive director.

BelleHarvest Sales Inc., Belding, Mich., plans to grow its partnership with the PAW Patrol animated kids TV series, said president Nick Mascari.

The company is ramping up production on the Rave apple variety in Michigan, which will allow the company to service more Midwest customers, said Brian Coates, vice president of sales and business development.

The USDA’s 2022 U.S. apple production estimate is 10.1 billion pounds, up 3% from the previous year. 

The 775 family farms that cover 34,500 acres play a vital role in the Michigan apple industry, the largest and most valuable of the state’s fruit crops.

The Oberlin, Ohio association has come up with a half-dozen varieties that enable small growers to offer great-tasting apples without the expense of the pricey managed varieties marketed by larger growing operations.

Partnering with retailers to promote their product can spur demand and boost sales, many Michigan apple grower-shippers have found.

The value of U.S. fresh fruit exports declined 7% for the year from July 2021 through June 2022, USDA statistics show.

Despite what the company called a volatile trading environment, New Zealand-based T&G Global reported near-stable revenue for the six months ending June 30.

After a couple of challenging seasons, Michigan apple grower-shippers anticipate an exceptional crop this year — some say maybe a record one.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest change for Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit Co. has been the addition of another packing facility to the Sage Fruit family, says Chuck Sinks.

Joyfully Grown is the new tree fruit brand for Chelan, Wash.-based Chelan Fresh.

The Packer is calling for nominations for the 2022 Apple Person of the Year.

B.C. Tree Fruits Cooperative is taking steps to show the organization’s commitment to apple growers during a challenging period of increasing inflation, labor shortages and supply chain challenges.

TOMRA Food is bringing high technology to the apple packinghouse, said Damien Gibson, global category director for apples at TOMRA Food.

U.S. fresh apples in storage on June 1 were up 15.9% compared with the same time last year, according to the latest USAppleTracker survey from the U.S. Apple Association.

President Joe Biden has announced his intent to nominate Doug McKalip as agricultural negotiator for the United States Trade Representative.