Data show strong apple demand this summer

Honeycrisp, granny smith, fuji and gala have experienced notable sales growth this summer as families consume more food at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the four weeks ending Aug. 8, apple dollar sales are up 4%, with volume sales up 5%, according to a news release from Yakima, Wash.-based Domex Superfresh Growers. The company cited Nielsen data that also showed Honeycrisp sales up 44% in volume sales over that span, with granny smith up 12%, fuji up 5% and gala up 2%.

For the four months ending Aug. 8, organic apple volume sales are up 26%, with dollar sales up 28%, per the release. The dollar share of organic in the apple category is 15%; earlier in the year, it was closer to 10%.

The share of packaged apples has also increased, up to 44% from a pre-COVID-19 average of about 40%.

Pears have seen limited growth, up 2% in dollar sales and flat in volume sales, but bartlett pears in particular have had more success, up 19% in dollar sales and 14% in volume sales, according to Domex. The company also reported that Asian pears have been selling well, up 34% in dollar sales and 30% in volume sales.

Twenty-five percent of pear volume was packaged, up from 18-20% pre-pandemic.