Stemilt is headed to the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Atlanta, Oct. 17-19, ready to celebrate its 60th anniversary, according to a news release. The Wenatchee, Wash.-based grower-packer-shipper is marking six decades in business with the launch of new packaging and a “World Famous Fruit by World Famous Families” anniversary campaign designed to spotlight some of the families behind the fruit at Stemilt.
Also taking the stage this year are Stemilt exclusive varieties and brands, including Artisan Organics, Cosmic Crisp, Aura apples, Happi Pear and more, the release said.
“This is a significant year for Stemilt, and we can’t wait to surprise attendees with new packaging and merchandising ideas [and] our recently launched World Famous Fruit by World Famous Families campaign,” said Brianna Shales, Stemilt marketing director. “It will be shown during the ‘State of the Industry’ general session on Oct. 17.
“Stemilt’s been family-owned and operated through five generations of the Mathison family and throughout its history, there have been families of employees who have collaborated with them to produce apples, pears, cherries and stone fruits,” Shales continued. “It’s been amazing to learn about the passion ‘Stemilters’ have been bringing to their jobs over the years.”
As attendees immerse themselves in stories behind Stemilt “world famous fruit,” they will also learn about the company’s involvement with workplace and environmental improvement projects such as certification with the Equitable Food Initiative and sustainability, the release said.
“Our goal at this year’s show is to help our visitors learn more about Stemilt’s legacy and passion for growing ‘world famous fruit,’” Shales said. “We’re really looking forward to discussing opportunities with partner retailers that will help them find success at the point of sale with Stemilt. One apple variety in particular, Cosmic Crisp, will be a main point of conversation because this is the year for Cosmic Crisp. Honeycrisp will be down 30% in volume in 2024-2025, which presents the perfect opportunity to introduce consumers to something new. We know if retailers can be successful this apple season, so can we.”
Also new, Aura apples will be on display at Stemilt’s booth for tastings and future planning of the Honeycrisp and Aurora cross. On the pear side, Happi Pear is one of the first branded pear varieties and a Stemilt exclusive offering, the release said. The grower says it expects Happi Pear to be No. 3 in its pear offerings by 2025.
“Apples are a crowded category, and our aim is to help retailers merchandise the varieties available through packaging and branding that helps drive consumer purchases,” Shales said. “One of our tried-and-true brands, Lil Snappers, has been winning the hearts of parents and children with a smaller piece of fruit for years. It offers consumers convenience through its pouch bag style while also marketing directly to the intended user, kids and their parents.”
On the organic side, Stemilt plans to share an array of Artisan Organics apple and pear offerings, including a new, sustainable package for pears. Stemilt’s EZ Band package has been implemented for apples but is now available for pears to offer a recyclable option for organic shoppers.
“It has definitely taken a village to be able to share so many exciting varieties with the produce industry since Stemilt’s founding in 1964,” Shales said. “We are excited to continue celebrating our 60th anniversary with IFPA attendees and getting them geared up for the 2024-2025 season ahead. We hope our visitors have the chance to experience our passion for cultivating people and delighting consumers through excellence with very piece of Stemilt world famous fruit.”
