United Apple Sales, Lyndonville, N.Y., is marking the year 2020 with a celebration of 115 years in the agriculture business.
In 1905, the Dobbins family began with a 70-acre plot to support their own needs and to offer produce for the local community, according to a news release.
The company has since expanded as a grower, packer and shipper of more than 1.5 million bushels a year through regional, domestic, import and export programs.
“With each successive generation, we have learned more and evolved the business side of the operations, which has required significant ongoing investments and training to compete in a global market,” fourth-generation owner Ward Dobbins said in the release.
At this anniversary, the company explored ways to update its branding and presence in the market and increase awareness of its broadened capabilities.
“We wanted to pay respect to our century plus heritage but also give our customers and the produce market a broader perspective on our domestic and international capabilities,” Brett Baker, executive vice president, said in the release.
The rebranding includes a graphic update of its logo and a “Because Local Matters” label with a farm scene on its shipper boxes and product packaging.
“We know that consumers are becoming more concerned about the origin of their food,” Dobbins said in the release.
And retailers are also trying to be more regionally relevant, he said.
The United Apple Sales website, unitedapplesales.com, is also redesigned, featuring updated video and digital assets to illustrate the company’s comprehensive capabilities for growing and packing apples, cherries and pears.
A varietal availability feature will help retailers see when and where United Apple’s fruit is available year-round across regional, domestic and import seasons, Baker said.
