OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Los Angeles-based Giumarra was stressing the value of the Lemonade apple as a 52-week-per-year option for retailers at the Associated Wholesale Grocers’ seventh annual Innovation Showcase, March 25-26.
The Lemonade apple is a sweet-tart apple that falls between a golden delicious and a Pink Lady on the tartness scale, said Kellee Harris, vice president of retail merchandising.
The Lemonade apple began in the U.S. market as a limited import item. However, Giumarra has seen increasing domestic volume of the variety in the last five or six years, said Kristina Lorusso, vice president of retail partner services.
“This year we’ve had a really good crop, and we’re at 52 weeks this year,” Lorusso said.
The apple, a cross between braeburn and gala varieties, has a bright yellow skin with a little bit of a pink blush that makes for a natural color break for the apple category, Harris said.
