United Apple Sales uses technology to maximize season
Customized growing strategies along with investment in new storage technologies have helped United Apple Sales to extend the season and enhance fruit quality, said Brett Baker, a fourth-generation orchardist and owner of the western New York marketer.
“As far as managing the orchards, we're constantly analyzing data and continuing to use smart technology to make sure that we are balancing what Mother Nature provides and augmenting with the right nutrients to fit the respective needs of each variety,” Baker said in a news release. “The old regimen of using the same strategy across all blocks is long gone. We now operate with prescription farming practices where each variety and, in some cases each block, warrants a customized plan recognizing the age of the orchard, the respective maturity of the trees, and the anticipated market demand for sizing and volume."
The technology enables United Apple Sales to determine the most opportune time to pack and store varieties to fully leverage the crop and support retail partners with year-round promotions, Baker said in the release.
Baker said in the release that United Apple Sales has found success in its network of 59 local growers with managed club varieties EverCrisp, Ruby Frost and SnapDragon.
“Our orchard managers have gained valuable experience in evolving these new varieties from their inaugural phase of early plantings. We are reaching our goals of increasing volume, maintaining high color and offering excellent eating quality,” he said in the release.
EverCrisp is now in its fifth season with product projected to be available through May, Baker said in the release. SnapDragon is in season nine with volume until late March. Ruby Frost, in its ninth season, will have product into June, he added.
“Retail partners look to us for assistance in developing merchandising and promotional plans to deliver the best flavor and increase overall appeal of these unique varieties to create additional excitement in their produce aisles,” Baker said in the release.
Import partnerships
With Washington state’s crop being down compared with historical levels, United Apple has reached out to its Southern Hemisphere import partners to support requested volumes for slicers and processors to build consistent volumes for national programs, according to the release.
“Our Southern Hemisphere growers and partners are looking to partner with us in markets that we have supported for the past 15 years,” Josh Tunstall, vice president of Northwest sales and operations, said in the release. “After industry-wide issues with the supply chain last year, we are working with our partners to negotiate favorable pricing on fruit and freight costs, which have declined from record rates last season. Based on customer need, we can deliver imported product to both east and west coast ports."
Tunstall shared the following schedule for United Apple’s import arrivals:
- Gala — late March through mid-July.
- Grannies — mid-April through mid-August.
- Fuji — mid-May through late August.
- Pink Lady — mid-May through early September.
