Organic gala and organic Honeycrisp provide both retailers and consumers with great options, says Kaci Komstadius, vice president of marketing for Sage Fruit Co., Yakima, Wash.
“Our most sought-after organic item by retailers is organic Honeycrisp, with organic gala running a close second,” Komstadius said. “Organic Honeycrisp is a high-end consumer favorite, which has an excellent ring at the register. On the opposite side of that though, organic gala is an excellent option for the everyday organic consumer because it is more price friendly.”
Sage Fruit Co. is the sales and marketing firm for five Northwest tree fruit packing facilities, Komstadius said. The marketer’s organic fruit is grown throughout eastern Washington — from the southeastern region, through the Yakima Valley and Chelan, and up to Okanogan. Organic packing facilities for Sage Fruit are in Chelan and Yakima.
“We offer a wide variety of organic apples and pears year-round,” she said.
Sage Fruit employees work hard to deliver fruit that meets the company’s tagline of “An Exceptional Eating Experience,” she said.
This season, Sage Fruit will have organic SugarBee available, as well as an increased volume of organic Cosmic Crisp, Komstadius said.
“Additionally, we are offering several new pack styles that will lend well to flexibility in sizing and accommodate retail and consumer needs,” she said.
Komstadius said inflation has caused some consumers to buy conventional instead of organic.
“As a marketer, we continue to encourage retailers to build nice eye-catching displays and put organic apples and pears in ads more frequently with other organic items,” she said.
