Envy apple's star continues to rise

The latest apple category statistics report from Wenatchee, Wash.-based CMI Orchards shows Envy apple sales are setting a torrid pace among high-flavor varieties.

“Envy’s popularity has been skyrocketing over the last 52-week period,” Danelle Huber, CMI’s senior marketing manager, said in a news release. “With a 19% increase in sales and a 28% increase in volume across the U.S., Envy secures the 8th most popular spot in the U.S. right now.”

Envy is a registered trademark owned by the T&G group of companies. Envy apples, a cross between gala and braeburn varieties, are sold and distributed by exclusive North American sales agents, including Oppy, Rainier and CMI Orchards under the leadership and support of the local brand marketing team of T&G Global.

Envy makes up nearly a quarter of branded, high-flavor apple sales volume, Huber said in the release.

NielsenIQ also reports over the last six months that the Mountain, West North Central, and East North Central divisions enjoyed the largest increases in the Consumer Demand Index, putting Envy as the No. 1 branded apple of choice in the South region and No. 2 in all the others. This marks a total growth across U.S. regions between 23% and 44.2%, according to the release.

“Envy’s fan base continues to soar. Since arriving to market, this luxury apple continues to break sales records time and time again,” Rochelle Bohm, vice president of marketing at CMI, said in the release. “It’s delicate, sweet flavor and crisp, slow-to-brown flesh leaves customer demand high, while the longevity of its stored life and social media presence feeds a growing fan base.”

Envy apples deliver year-round opportunities for retailers to build category sales, Bohm said in the release.

“A high-performing apple paired with gorgeous branding and availability in both conventional and organic options make Envy the ultimate star of the summer,” she said in the release.