Apples
Apples are a perennial favorite with consumers: 90% of all consumers buy apples, according to The Packer 2026 Fresh Trends Report. The ever-growing number of apple varieties creates marketing opportunities for Produce Retailers.
A multigenerational leadership team has partnered with the company to connect regional apple growers with growing national retail demand.
Rabobank’s David Magaña shares how inflation, technology and shifting trade are redefining success for apple growers.
The fourth-generation Virginia apple grower will serve the 2026-27 term and is the second in his family to lead the association.
From stagnant prices to GLP-1 weight-loss trends, new presentation data reveals what is holding back apple consumption — and how the industry plans to respond.
USDA estimates point to a 2026 apple crop down 7% year-over-year and 3% off the five-year average due to severe weather, though key producing states have opted out of early adjustments to await post-harvest counts in December.
Rice Fruit Co. President Ben Rice earned top industry honors for securing state disaster aid, advocating for local orchards and strengthening regional storage capacity.
Leading Eastern shippers outline expectations for crop availability, merchandising tactics, and regional supply advantages this season.
Susan Chekow Lusignan shares her strategies for leveraging local advantages, navigating economic headwinds and connecting with the next generation of consumers through authentic storytelling
Marketers say regional advantages and smart packaging strategies position the Wolverine State for a robust harvest.
While the Stockton, Calif.-based company markets its proprietary Modi apples and several varieties of California onions throughout the U.S. and internationally, the products are primarily distributed on the West Coast, where consumers clamor for local.
Gibbons, who first joined the U.S. Apple Association in May 2023, has been named vice president of communications.
An exclusive interview with Aimee Bach, FirstFruits business development manager, reveals how this new Michigan partnership targets high fuel costs and volatile market conditions to keep regional retail shelves consistently stocked.
Unexpected disease patterns, shifting crop susceptibility, and fungicide resistance are changing every spray decision.
A devastating April freeze has pushed back the start of some late-spring and summer crops out of the Northeast, including the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tristate area, and will impact supplies of a number of commodities.
Brewster Heights Packing & Orchards has filed for a voluntary court-supervised stalking horse asset sale to protect its premium orchards and navigate a historic agricultural margin squeeze.
This declaration allows for USDA’s Farm Service Agency to extend emergency credit to growers in 17 counties in the state hit by below-freezing temperatures in April.
While a catastrophic spring frost completely wiped out some regional fruit crops, other growers are turning to cutting-edge horticulture to save their seasons.
In Becker, Minn., a 20,000-square-foot apple orchard honors fallen Iraq and Afghanistan service members, displaying thousands of dog tags, organized by state, each telling a story.
The company says the additions help broaden its multiregional network and build upon its acquisition of Applewood Fresh.
By leveraging direct-to-consumer data and modern branding tactics, Yes! Apples’ redesign looks to compete for “share of stomach” against high-energy snacking and beverage categories.
By leveraging these merchandising tools to highlight specific health benefits of apples, avocados, mangoes and blueberries, retailers can transform the produce aisle into a destination for both physical and psychological resilience.
As Washington growers face rising costs and labor scarcity, a new partnership with Semillero de Ideas is transforming experienced harvesters into technical consultants to optimize orchard efficiency and automation.
Known for Honeycrisp and SweeTango, the university’s new Superior Fruit Innovations program helps growers access new genetics like Super Snap and Big Flirt without the restrictions of traditional club models.
Stemilt Growers Research and Development Director Rob Blakey explains why modern apple, cherry and pear varieties must be as efficient in the pack shed as they are flavorful for the consumer.
Competition was fierce at Fruit Logistica 2026 last week, where 10 companies competed for the coveted Innovation Awards in the fresh produce and technology categories.
The grower-packer-shipper earned 2026 Sustainability, Environmental Achievement and Leadership Business Awards for its Planet Positive innovation and carbon-negative tree fruit.
Economic losses to specialty crops last year were on a level that can put farming operations out of business, with the American Farm Bureau Federation estimating billions in losses to almonds, apples, lettuce, potatoes, strawberries and blueberries alone.