Apples

FirstFruits Adds to Michigan Leadership

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:25:42 GMT

FirstFruits says it has expanded its Michigan leadership team as the company continues building on the growth and opportunities created by its 2023 acquisition of Applewood Fresh.

The company has announced the addition of a new general manager, Scott Morrison, and sales account manager, Mike Fuher, in the Michigan office. FirstFruits also recently promoted Tristan Hauck to senior sales account manager.

Morrison has built a career spanning transportation, logistics, production, finance, forecasting and food safety within packinghouse operations. He also led key operational, financial and data-tracking initiatives that strengthened facility performance and grower insight in previous roles.

Fuher joins the team with more than three decades of experience in the fresh produce industry, having held roles in both operations and sales. Fuher is known for his deep industry knowledge and long-standing relationships across the produce sector.

“Bringing Scott and Mike onto the team represents an exciting step forward for our Michigan operations at Applewood Fresh,” says Chuck Zeutenhorst, vice president of sales and marketing for FirstFruits. “Their experience and leadership will help strengthen our team and further our mission of delivering the highest quality fruit to our customers.”

Yes! Apples Borrows from the CPG Playbook to Spark Category Growth

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:32:35 GMT

Tenley Fitzgerald, vice president of marketing and brand strategy at Yes! Apples, says she’s watched the CPG world closely over the last couple of years and has seen an explosion of energy and momentum within the snacking, beverage and other center-store categories.

“And the same thing is not happening as much in produce,” she says. “It is happening a little bit. And it’s definitely, in my opinion, not happening in the same way in apples.”

So, when Fitzgerald and the team at Yes! Apples decided to create a new design for the brand, she leaned heavily into the CPG space for ideas.

“If we’re all sort of thinking about how we’re being competitive and vying for share of stomach — apples, if we want them to have a true seat at the table, they need to be at the level that all of these other players in the CPG space are raising the bar,” she says.

Tenley Fitzgerald, vice president of marketing and brand strategy at Yes! Apples.

(Photo courtesy of Yes! Apples)

Why Produce Needs a CPG Makeover

CPG brands, Fitzgerald says, do a good job of educating consumers on added benefits and the values of the brands and how they resonate with consumers. Fresh produce and apples have a great opportunity to not only capitalize on the growing interest younger generations have in eating healthy but also how a company’s values speak to them.

“There’s been such a shift in how they’re perceiving the things that they’re bringing to their homes,” she says. “They really care. They care in a monumental way that we haven’t seen in generations before. And so, [we’re] really trying to apply those values, those tactics, those strategies, to a category that has not seen a lot of change in the last several decades.”

She says a big “aha” moment was thinking about how shoppers engage with the category and rethinking how apples should be sold.

“Maybe this confusion itself at shelf, maybe this lack of leveling up and trying new varieties — maybe it’s because we’re not selling apples the right way,” she says. “This brand reveal is sort of the intersection of those two elements. ... Let’s think about how we’re educating our consumers. What are we giving them to feel empowered in the aisle at the point of sale? And then, how do we modernize ourselves without losing the nostalgia the apples hold? But how do we modernize ourselves so that we actually have a competitive seat at the table against everything that’s happening in this CPG category?”

Even bulk apples help establish the brand’s identity and its New York roots.

(Photo courtey of Yes! Apples)

Digital Success as a Retail Blueprint

Fitzgerald says a lot of the inspiration for this new design came from Yes! Apples’ direct-to-consumer online sales. She says, with 41% returning customers and triple-digit year-over-year growth, Yes! Apples’ online business provides customer feedback and data. She says the website offers recipes, highlights fruit quality and helps consumers understand exactly what they’re buying and how to best use the varieties.

“Not only is it working, but we’re getting people to spend more money than they would in-store to buy something that’s resonating with them,” she says.

And she sees these learnings as being applicable to retailers thanks to the new branding efforts.

“All we’re trying to do here is open distribution, get people thinking differently about apples, making customers feel like, ‘I know what to choose, and I know what to do with it, and I know I’m going to like it,’” she says. “And if retailers see that potential and see the opportunity for us to take a gala buyer and transition them up to a SweeTango buyer, then the proof is in the pudding.”

Heritage Meets High-Design

In the creation of this branding, Fitzgerald says the idea was to pull typography from handwritten farm stand signs, noting the apple category is steeped in culture and history; she says that’s exactly what Blurr Bureau, the branding partner, achieved.

“They figured out this intersection of vintage and modern and how to bridge these two worlds, and they did it exceptionally well,” she says. “Not only did you make this brand a real brand — it feels like we could sit on the shelf next to the Chobanis and the Grazas of the world — but also you did it honoring everything that makes apples so special.”

Fitzgerald says she wants retailers to know and understand that Yes! Apples wants to be a strategic partner in helping drive sales, offering curated variety mixes and point-of-sale tools to help manage the category.

“We can be a strategic partner for the retailer in a way that nobody else can, because we have all these marketing elements at our disposal,” she says.

Fitzgerald points to Yes! Apples’ strong presence on social media, work with influencers, partnerships and more that really resonate with younger consumers. She says she’s in conversations with a retailer about cross-merchandising apples outside of the produce department because of Yes! Apples’ partnerships. She says this opens up a world of opportunities beyond just the department.

Yes! Apples new package design feature colors that help the totes and bags stand out but also help the consumer understand which variety they’re buying and how best to use them. “It’s really creating a systemic packaging format that’s teaching consumers exactly how to buy your product,” Fitzgerald says.

(Photo courtesy of Yes! Apples)

Engineering a Frictionless Shopping Experience

The new design features nutrition education and varietal guidance in the back-of-pack copy, use-case suggestions to help choose the right variety for eating or cooking, a color palette that stands out in a category known for its reds and greens, nutrition labeling with key attention to fiber and naturally occurring antioxidants and more. Fitzgerald points to Yes! Apples packaging to help create a system to help the produce buyer.

“One thing that we hear from retailers a lot and why they choose private label is because it creates a uniform display on their shelves,” she says. “And I understand the value in that, but I also think that they’re doing it in a way that is not honoring the fruit or making it easier for the customer.”

She says with Yes! Apples’ packaging, whether it be pouch poly or tote or even bulk, all the elements work together.

“We have to be really creative to think about ways that we can still educate our consumers and get the messaging out there,” she says.

With the new packaging of its bags and totes, Fitzgerald says she took inspiration from Goodles mac and cheese, where the key elements and typography were the same but each flavor featured a different color. Fitzgerald says the color palette came from the different colors found naturally in the orchard, but amplified.

“It’s really creating a systemic packaging format that’s teaching consumers exactly how to buy your product,” she says.

Partnership ROI for the Retailer

The idea was to make this as frictionless a shopping experience for consumers and as frictionless as possible for retailers.

“How do we make it so that ... they don’t look at us thinking that we are asking them to do one more thing,” Fitzgerald says of retailers. “We’re asking them to do something, yes, ... but something that’s ultimately going to save them time and energy and sell them more apples.”

Yes! Apples comes with the core knowledge of the category, pun intentional, of New York Apple Sales, which has been in business for more than a century.

“We want to be your strategic partner,” she says. “We want to make selling apples easier for you and your consumer. We want to help you trade consumers up from a gala to SweeTango buyer. We want to get more people putting it in their carts. We want to go against the berries and the Cotton Candy grapes of the world. We want to show the apples are just as exciting as other categories that are showing innovation as well.”

4 Powerhouse Plants to Supercharge Your Weekly Variety

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:34:58 GMT

Editor’s note: This column is part of an ongoing series , “The 30 Different Plants Per Week Challenge, Retail Edition.”

For anyone taking on the 30 Different Plants Per Week Challenge, the retail aisles are currently bursting with some serious nutritional heavy hitters.

While the challenge is often about quantity, recent research highlighted by several major growers reminds us that quality and variety are just as vital for our long-term resilience. From protecting your heart to boosting your mood, here are four powerhouse plants to add to your rotation this week, followed by actionable ways retailers can promote these habits.

The Fiber Foundation: Apples

We often hear that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but the current push from Honeybear Brands is specifically focused on the “why.” With March being National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, it is a perfect time to remember that apples are a premier source of fiber.

This is critical, because roughly 97% of men and 90% of women in the U.S. do not meet their daily fiber needs. By keeping the peel on your apples, you consume phytochemicals like flavonoids and polyphenols that help fight certain cancers. Beyond digestive health and cancer protection, emerging research shows fiber can even protect our brains by slowing down symptoms of cognitive decline.

Whether you slice them into a salad or pair them with peanut butter, they are a simple, affordable way to sneak more preventive nutrition into your day.

“We know shoppers are looking to make informed choices. They are aware of fiber’s contribution to good gut health, which supports overall health,” says Kristi Harris, marketing director for Honeybear Brands. “And with apples, it’s easy to sneak more fiber into our diets. Whether you take an apple with you as an on-the-go snack, slice it up instead of chips for lunch or add to a dish for dinner, apples deliver on taste and health in spades. Plus, they are very affordable.”

The Mood Booster: Blueberries

If you find yourself feeling a bit more optimistic after your morning smoothie, it might not just be the caffeine. According to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, a new study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition suggests that women who consumed a diet containing flavonoid-rich foods scored higher in feelings of happiness and optimism over time.

Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds present in a variety of plant foods. However, the researchers found that women who consumed approximately three servings per day of flavonoid-rich foods such as blueberries, strawberries, apples and citrus fruits demonstrated a 3% to 16% greater likelihood of sustained happiness and optimism.

The results suggest a bidirectional relationship, where women who maintained higher levels of happiness and optimism were more likely to sustain a healthier, flavonoid-rich diet over time.

“What we found most compelling is the potential for a ‘virtuous cycle’ between diet and mental outlook,” says lead researcher Aedin Cassidy. “Not only do flavonoid-rich foods like berries and apples appear to bolster long-term happiness and optimism, but women who feel better are also more likely to maintain those healthy habits. It suggests that simple, everyday dietary choices can be a powerful tool for supporting psychological resilience as we age.”

The Heart-Healthy Power Couple: Mango and Avocado

Perhaps the most exciting news for your weekly menu is the discovery of a superfruit pairing that targets heart health. Research from the Illinois Institute of Technology recently found that combining an avocado and 1 cup of mango daily can support key markers of cardiovascular wellness. In a study of adults with prediabetes, this specific combination led to improved blood vessel function and a reduction in diastolic blood pressure.

Individually, these two fruits are already nutritional heavyweights. Mangoes provide over 20 different vitamins and minerals, while avocados offer heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and zero sugar. To make these a staple, you might try Mango Avocado Spring Rolls or Easy Mango Chicken Stir Fry .

For those looking for culturally relevant ways to manage health, chef Pati Jinich and Avocados From Mexico are currently promoting diabetes-friendly recipes like Lime Rubbed Chicken Tacos that use the healthy fats of avocado to create meals that are both nutritious and traditional.

By integrating these four plants, you aren’t just checking off a list; you are actively fueling your body’s defense systems.

Retail Insights

For retail grocers, these research findings offer a goldmine for seasonal merchandising and community engagement. Since March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Honeybear Brands is already encouraging retailers to use point-of-sale materials featuring the recognized blue ribbon to remind shoppers of the vital link between apple consumption and cancer prevention.

Because most Americans currently fall short of their daily fiber requirements, high-visibility signage near apple displays can serve as a helpful nudge for customers looking to improve their gut health and reduce disease risk.

Beyond apples, there is a significant opportunity to cross-promote mangoes and avocados together. Given the new research suggesting that eating these two fruits daily can improve blood vessel function and blood pressure, grocers might consider “Heart-Health Bundle” displays, placing fresh mangoes and avocados in the same refrigerated or ambient endcap — perhaps alongside recipe cards.

Finally, retailers can tap into the virtuous cycle of mental well-being by highlighting flavonoid-rich fruits like blueberries and strawberries near the checkout or in the front of the produce department. By framing these fruits as tools for psychological resilience and optimism, you move the conversation beyond simple dieting and into the realm of total holistic wellness.

Your Next Read:

New Farmworker Consultant Program Redefines the Specialized Labor Market

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:01:46 GMT

Semillero de Ideas recently launched the first-of-its-kind consultant program with the Washington State Tree Fruit Association in which trained farmworker consultants can work directly with the state’s tree fruit growers.

Erik Nicholson, executive director of Semillero de Ideas — an organization that trains farmworkers as consultants to help in process improvement, safety and efficiency — says this program is a recognition of the wealth of knowledge farmworkers bring, both from working in the fields and from working in farming families.

“When one talks to workers and creates a safe space, you learn just the amazing insights they have about what could or should be happening that could both enhance the dignity of work and support growers to be more productive, more efficient, safer and have higher food safety protocols,” Nicholson says. “Unfortunately, the culture of our industry has been such that it is rarely, if ever, brought into the productive process, recognized and rewarded.”

This partnership will dispatch workers to help provide ground-level knowledge. The Equitable Food Initiative developed and led a multiweek training that the farmworker consultants successfully completed.

Genaro Pavel Garcia and Josue Damian Granados are two of the first consultants to be a part of this program.

A Manufacturing Model for the Orchard

Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, says this is like in other industries where consultants can offer advice on process improvements, development of tools or other internal changes.

“With such a highly mobile workforce, some farms might be reluctant to try to bring a whole crew in to have that conversation,” he says, highlighting the value of having experienced farmworkers who know how to do harvest work or other functions provide input on process improvements.

Nicholson says the program does not seek to displace or replace the consultants working in the industry but rather to bring a different perspective.

“From my perspective, the most knowledgeable people in our industry are those actually doing work,” he says.

Nicholson says many of the processes used in agriculture today haven’t changed that much, and these consultants offer a real opportunity to create true improvements.

“In other industries, we talk about a culture of continuous improvement and someone that creates more value needs to be paid for it, and farmworkers are just as capitalistic as everybody else,” he says. “I think that’s kind of the opportunity we have. How do we invest more in the workforce? We have to create more value for everybody.”

Investing in Human Capital

Nicholson says the consultant program also provides a true career ladder, which has been lacking in the horticulture industry.

“Every worker who works in specialty ag has some trick up their sleeve about how to do things better, faster,” he says. “The challenge and the opportunity are: How do we invite folks to share that, how do we compensate them for that and how do we recognize and reward them for that?”

Nicholson says this is also an opportunity to create small changes with big impacts in the industry through productivity and efficiency. He adds that while organizational design literature promotes the idea of investing in the workforce to get desired results, the agriculture industry often falls short.

“Imagine if we apply that same logic to horticulture,” he says. “‘We’re going to invest as little as possible in the field. We’re going to cut back in fertilizer. We’re going to irrigate as little as possible. We’re not going to go high-density. We’re going to do this as cheaply as possible.’ It’s a necessary proposition, but that’s exactly what we’re doing with labor.”

Precision Approach to Productivity

DeVaney says this is a new model for the horticulture industry, though he sees the potential for these consultants.

“It’s just not something that every farm has done in the past,” he says. “It is something that’s been more common in the manufacturing and corporate environment. I think this is a longer-term project, but it’s one I think that provides a lot of good opportunities to recognize the expertise of some of these workers.”

Growers have been open to the idea, DeVaney says, though it’s not necessarily something they will seek out immediately and will likely use as a resource as problems arise throughout the growing season.

“Most people in agriculture don’t go looking for money to spend,” he says. “They address problems as they come up and as he feels necessary to do so. So, I suspect that what will happen is people will take on board the fact that this opportunity exists and will be thinking about it, and as they note problems or something that has been a longtime irritant, they’ll say, ‘Maybe that’s something I could have go through this process and see if I can get it fixed.’”

But DeVaney says the consultant program offered through Semillero de Ideas is more indicative of the current and future of the fresh produce industry, where efficiency becomes increasingly important.

“It is also representative of the transition going on in the industry, where ongoing labor shortages have more and more growers thinking in terms of productivity per worker and efficiency and how to maximize the effectiveness of your individual workforce, because adding more people becomes just physically more difficult and more costly over time,” he says. “So, the shift toward maximizing productivity through having technological assists or having process improvements — that focus is one that will take time to fully implement, but it shows that the industry does continue, as a whole, to innovate in response to pressures.”

University of Minnesota's Licensing Model Brings High-Flavor Apple Varieties to Direct Marketers

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:30:23 GMT

Apple breeding is quite a long game, says Matt Clark, associate professor in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Horticultural Science and director of research at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The university’s renowned fruit breeding program has created household names such as Honeycrisp and SweeTango as well as Rave, Zestar and countless others.

Clark says he and his university colleague, David Bedford, senior research fellow and apple breeder, have varieties in different stages of development that will likely be released by their successors.

“The work we’re doing in 2025 — the breeding decisions we’re making now are for 2050 and beyond,” Clark says. “We try to be thinking about the future and setting up the next Matt Clark and David Bedford team in 25 years. I keep saying, the crosses I’m making now, I hope to be retired by the time they’re released.”

Clark says Bedford, known for his pivotal role in developing Honeycrisp, also calls variety development a numbers game. Clark says his research team moved forward with 11 selections this year and discarded more than 4,000 crosses. The 11 that advanced still need to go through vigorous assessments to continue in variety development.

High Stakes of Variety Selection

Honeycrisp’s ascent from pick-your-own darling to consumer favorite is nothing that any fruit breeder could have predicted, but it set in motion the current path of both variety management and variety development.

While managed varieties offer growers the chance to grow something exclusive and brands to control the final product, Clark says what’s missing is the direct-to-consumer aspect of a licensing model in many cases.

The University of Minnesota recently launched Superior Fruit Innovations, a grower-focused license model that opens its catalog of varieties to growers of different scales. While a few organizations have opened varieties to pick-your-own and direct-to-consumer markets, the university felt it was important to offer something with its own noteworthy IP, Clark says.

“It’s strategic for us to be thinking about getting varieties — that we’ve invested a lot of time and energy into — producing exceptional eating-quality apples that they can grow and direct-market to their customer, who they know,” he says. “At the same time, they don’t necessarily compete with wholesale growers who are producing for a year-round market.”

New Model for Flavor

Clark says, in many ways, some of the varieties developed for the direct-to-consumer market won’t be successful wholesale or commercial apples.

They might have thinner skin and bruise easily, but the flavor might be out of this world. Instead of scrapping a variety because it can’t be successful from grower to packer, this licensing model helps set the varieties up to a place where they’ll shine: in a farm market where a grower or a retail staff member can help consumers find flavors tailored to their tastes and expectations.

“Growers know their customers because they see them and they come back every week and buy these products,” he says.

Superior Fruit Innovations has just released Big Flirt and Super Snap. Clark says Rave, also known as First Kiss, is also a part of this licensing agreement.

Clark says Super Snap is “ultracrisp.” While the University of Minnesota classifies Honeycrisp as crisp, there are two other categories the breeding program classifies as crisp.

“It’s elevated, and it’s possible that the only way you’re going to get that is going to these direct marketers, because who knows what it’s like after three months, five months; we don’t have enough data, what the production scale is like,” he says. “But for us, we’re like, ‘Wow, that is something that consumers are going to remember.’ It’s crispier and juicier than Honeycrisp.”

Clark says there are more releases planned, including more in the direct-to-consumer marketplace.

“We have more of this pipeline because we have some that we know would never make it through a packinghouse,” he says. “They have this tender, crisp, super juicy, almost meltinglike texture. The only way to have that experience really is to pick it yourself and eat it.”

Cultivating the Future of Fresh

Clark says success as a fruit breeder is an interesting notion, as many may see wide adoption as a success, though he also sees sustainability as part of success. This means disease resistance, varieties that are easier for growers to grow and more.

“I came into this field thinking success as farmers is making money and growing things that people want, trying new things and diversifying their farms,” he says. “Success also looks like making sure I can pay for my staff and take care of the orchard and continue the innovation.”

And Clark says this licensing model will help growers access more varieties.

“We think that this model is useful,” he says. “We’ve basically set up our own in-house club, and it’s not an exclusive club, but it’s a way of saying, ‘We want you to be successful; we want you to try these varieties,’ and mirroring in some ways what the Midwest Apple Improvement Association is doing but not being exclusive like what we’ve done on some of these other varieties.”

While Honeycrisp and SweeTango put the University of Minnesota on the map for apple breeding, Clark notes the program’s reach extends to table grapes, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. Having spent the last decade focused on the university’s table grape breeding, Clark is now seeing those efforts come to fruition. Several new cold-hardy varieties, including the LumiGlo grape, are being released through the Superior Fruit Innovations model.

“They have the most fantastic flavor,” he says. “If you’ve never tasted a grape that tastes something like pineapple and strawberry and guava together, we’ve got that. Does it have the best texture? No. Does it have a little bit of a seed trace that you might notice? Yeah, but the flavor is awesome. And why sit on that? Let’s try to get growers to produce this.”

Clark says he hopes the licensing model will help support the continued effort of land-grant university breeding programs, though the goal is also to continue to push the envelope of flavor to draw more consumers to fresh produce.

“It’s a win to get really tasty varieties into the mouths of consumers who should be eating more fruits and vegetables,” he says. “And then I think they’re going to have an eating experience that they’re going to enjoy.”

As for the crosses he’s making today, Clark says he just hopes his successor will agree with the direction the program moves toward.

“We’re already thinking about who [is] your successor and how are they going to use this information and hope that they agree with our decisions that we’re making,” he says. “We’re hoping that we’re doing the right thing and making good decisions.”

Beyond Flavor: Why Economic Sustainability is a Priority for New Orchards

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:00:58 GMT

There’s been a longtime push in the specialty crop industry to offer newer varieties with better genetics. This is no more evident than in apples, where Honeycrisp paved the way for a different eating experience and went from possible breeding project reject to farmers market darling to arguably the most widely known modern apple variety.

The challenge with a variety like Honeycrisp is that it is a difficult variety to grow, store and pack, says Rob Blakey, research and development director with Stemilt Growers.

“It’s great for the consumer, great for the retailer, but we need to match that eating experience with efficiencies in the orchards and in the pack shed,” Blakey says. “Otherwise, it doesn’t pencil. And we’re talking about sustainability; a variety has to be economically sustainable.”

While early pricing compensated for Honeycrisp’s poor efficiency, a saturated market has caused prices to collapse, and the variety isn’t as sustainable for the grower as it once was.

Setting a New Gold Standard for Variety Efficiency

Blakey’s focus at Stemilt is to evaluate new cherry, pear and apple varieties that meet modern-day consumer demands while also being something sustainable for growers, packers and shippers.

It’s a process with an extremely long view, and it all starts at Stemilt with twice-yearly meetings to examine the variety mix currently in orchards.

“We look at market performance and our orchard mix by variety, organic and conventional,” Blakey says. “What we look at is, are we in line with what we’re selling? Because we want to grow what we can sell, so we are aligning that and having direction in that way.”

Mapping the Long View of the Orchard Cycle

Blakey says the team at Stemilt then examines each commodity — apples, pears and cherries — and looks at harvest windows on each ranch. The team also studies where each orchard is in its 20-year cycle.

“As a variety is sunsetting, what’s coming in? When are we taking that orchard out? What are we replacing it with?” he says.

From there, Blakey works backward from determining what goes in where and when. That includes determining what type of rootstocks will be needed when and what variety will be grafted to the rootstock, as well as making sure there’s enough budwood to grow those trees. Then there is thinking about what scaling some of those new varieties might look like in five to six years.

For example, Blakey says he’s ordered rootstocks in the nursery to plant in 2028 with the hope that those trees will begin cropping in 2032.

Stemilt also evaluates new varieties. Blakey says that thanks to a dialed-in evaluation process, Stemilt can launch a variety in under 15 years, which is roughly half as long as it used to take.

He says a variety like Cosmic Crisp is the model for new varieties. It’s easy to grow, easy to store, easy to pack, and consumers love it.

“That’s our bar,” he says. “If it’s not delivering on that type of efficiency, it’s not going to compete. … If it’s not beating Cosmic or it’s a unique color or bringing something completely different, it won’t make it.”

For apples, Blakey says this means looking for varieties that fit a specific demand or window. For Aura apples, he says Stemilt specifically sought out a premium yellow apple.

“We launched that from cross to launch in 11 years,” he says.

Currently, Stemilt evaluates about 50 apple varieties from around the world and looks to see how those varieties grow if they have commercial potential from the orchard to packout, Blakey says.

“What we also learned from some of the new varieties that didn’t make it: They can eat good, they can store good, but they’re so delicate we can’t pack them,” he says. “We are evaluating all the critical steps, because we don’t want to be putting in money — putting in capital and growing a variety — only to find out at that stage, once we’ve put $20 million in that it doesn’t pack so well. We’d rather learn the lessons early and get rid of stuff as quickly as you can.”

And there have been many great-eating varieties in the trials that did not make it in that final step, he says. While all varieties have unique challenges, he says it’s a balance to find out whether a “quirk” is something a grower or packer-shipper could live with.

Though many growers want a proprietary apple variety, Blakey says these next-generation varieties have to be primed to succeed in a crowded category.

“This has to stand on its own as a viable product, and it costs more, but it’s a lot cheaper than a failed variety,” he says.

cherries

(Photo: Nailia Schwarz, Adobe Stock)

Flattening the Peak for a Better Cherry Season

Blakey says cherry evaluation is slightly less complicated than for apples, as there isn’t a variety attachment to cherries. It’s just a dark sweet cherry or a light-colored, rainier-type of cherry.

But the life cycle of cherry evaluations is much longer, he says, adding that he currently trials about 55 varieties throughout the world.

“I planted stuff in 2018, and I’m going to see a crop this year,” Blakey says. “It’s just a long, long cycle to get cherries.”

And for cherry trials, Blakey says it’s about seasonality. Instead of a peak, Stemilt wants to flatten the curve.

“How do we have the best varieties at each timing in each growing district to deliver that superior eating quality and have a crop and size and deliver a return to the grower?” he says. “There’s plenty of good-eating cherries that just don’t yield enough.”

Blakey evaluates aspects such as timing, rootstock, pollination, storage and shipping.

“It’s all dialed in, so when we launch, we can launch with confidence as well,” he says. “We’re always looking to go early. We’re trying to build out the early side, get a better eating experience on the early side.”

Blakey says he works with breeding programs to source early varieties as well as going as late as possible into the cherry season. This evaluation includes genetics, altitude, latitude and aspect, he explains.

While he says Stemilt has maximized altitude and aspect, genetics is where he sees the potential to improve cherry season.

“There’s new material coming out all the time that can add weeks to our program,” he says.

There’s also concern with cherry cracking and pitting, so those are also considerations for evaluation.

Blakey says a bonus with cherry evaluations is those can be sold; it doesn’t have to have a specific branding and variety around it as consumers seek out a large, firm and flavorful cherry.

He and the Stemilt team look at the current variety mix to see if there are opportunities or gaps for new varieties.

Bringing in new globally developed cherry varieties is its own challenge, Blakey notes. The budwood goes into government quarantine and evaluation to ensure the plant material is clean.

“Some varieties have taken 10 years to get out of quarantine because they couldn’t clean the material up,” he says. “It’s roughly two years, though.”

Then the nursery will take that budwood to grow a few test trees from which to pull budwood. Blakey says good paperwork is the key to keeping up with the evaluations in quarantine and in the field trials.

Stemilt Pears.png

(Photo courtesy of Stemilt Growers)

Moving Past the Old Model for Modern Pears

There’s an old adage that says, “Plant pears for your heirs.” And when it comes to pear breeding cycles, it’s a rather long cycle.

Pears have a juvenile period from seedling to cropping that lasts six years. The Happi pear originally was bred in 1988, Blakey points out. However, he says the pear category is ripe for innovation.

“There’s a lot of exciting pair genetics coming, just people haven’t been incentivized,” he says. “Pear growers are pretty conservative, because it just takes so long. In the old models, it would take six years before they got their first crop, 10 years before they started hitting peak production. And that one orchard was supposed to be there for 60 years.”

Blakey says a focus for him is on genetics and growing practices more in line with the future. Happi pear, for example, crops in the third year and hits peak production in the fifth or sixth year. He says that’s, in part, due to its precocious nature and its fire blight and pear psylla tolerance, which allow for more high-density plantings.

“We’re not trying to grow these big, old, steep leader trees anymore,” Blakey says. “We grow it like an apple: more trees per acre, earlier production. We get into full production earlier, which we’re paying that capital off a whole lot quicker.”

Unlike cherries and apples, Blakey says he evaluates far fewer new pear varieties, so he’s looking for the best of the best of new cultivars, as well as new and improved rootstocks that are cold-sensitive — a crucial trait. As he hopes to shorten that growth window, an orchard that could last for 60 or 100 years could recover from a once-in-50-year cold event, but that risk is higher with newer high-density plantings.

“If we’re growing an orchard for 20 years and those extreme colds are not happening as frequently and we’re growing in warmer districts, we can start looking at dwarfing rootstocks for pears,” he says.

And as with other commodities, new pear varieties need to perform well in storage and packing along with being easier to grow. Pear ripening is a significant factor in Blakey’s evaluation of new cultivars.

“Pears are more complicated,” he says. “They have to ripen, or you get a nonripening pear that’s crunchy to eat out of hand. So, how do we ripen it? It’s a big part of why we like Happi, because it ripens slowly and it doesn’t turn to mush. So, [those are] just more aspects that we have to look at.”

Future of Research and Development

As Blakey looks ahead, he says all of this R&D will help drive efficiency in the supply chain.

“How do we grow it better, we pick it better, we store it better, we pack it better?” he says. “Just with the shrinking margins, we have to be better at every single step without sacrificing an improved flavor experience.”

Blakey sees technology playing a key role in the future of new variety development.

“What excites me is that we have technology — storing technology and genetics — that we can deliver on that superior eating quality for longer in the year,” he says. “We’re not getting tired galas. We’re not getting tired Honeycrisp. We have technology to stretch the great-eating-quality window.”

Allergy-Friendly Apple, Ag Spraying Drone Nab Fruit Logistica 2026 Innovation Awards

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:39:16 GMT

BERLIN — 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.

Attendees of the three-day trade fair, held Feb. 4-6, were encouraged to vote for their favorite innovations in both categories, with the winners announced Feb. 6.

The Fruit Logistica Innovation Award for Fresh Produce went to allergy-friendly apple brand Pompur from German company Züchtungsinitiative Niederelbe, or ZIN, which exhibition organizers say won by a large margin.

The breeding initiative nabbed the award for its development of the world’s first apple brand certified by the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation. The apple derives its name from “pom” (meaning apple) and “pur” (meaning pure). Thanks to its low allergenicity, Pompur can be consumed by allergy sufferers, the company says.

The Fruit Logistica Innovation Award for Fresh Produce went to allergy-friendly apple brand Pompur from German company Züchtungsinitiative Niederelbe, or ZIN, which exhibition organizers say won by a large margin.

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

“We have created a product that gives many people access to apples that they previously couldn’t enjoy. In Germany alone, there are between 3.5 [million] and 4 million people with this allergy,” ZIN Managing Director Maik Stölken said at the Feb. 6 awards ceremony. “Our apple hasn’t come this far just because it’s allergen-free. It also simply tastes good. Today, we are celebrating the result of 20 years of development work.”

Fiachra Moloney of Bloom Fresh showed off the flavorful and antioxidant-rich Boombites Red Berry Grapes.

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

In the fresh produce category, Pompur was up against other innovations including Boombites Red Berry Grapes from Bloom Fresh, the result of natural breeding that combined desirable characteristics of table grapes and old wine grapes like grenache, Fiachra Moloney of Bloom Fresh, part of the Amfresh Group, told The Packer.

“The grapes were bred to [not only] taste great but also to be a superfruit, as Boombites contain antioxidants comparable to blueberries,” added Moloney, who said the grapes were more than 10 years in the making.

Mastronardi Produce’s colorful Pop Its booth featured a DJ and plenty of samples of its sweet snacking cucumber.

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

Mastronardi Produce’s Pop Its snacking cucumbers were also a contender.

“They’re a sweeter cucumber and a refreshing snack that are very different from other snacking cucumbers,” Mastronardi’s Andrea Salter Meloche told The Packer. In addition to having higher Brix and uniform sizing, Pop Its snacking cucumbers also come in fun, grab-and-go packaging that Salter Meloche says fits in most car cupholders.

“Innovating with varieties, packaging and branding is all-encompassing of what we do and truly what drives us,” she says. “We want to continue to push the envelope and differentiate from our competitors. Freshness and flavor are top for us.”

Tribelli seedless peppers from Enza Zaden were also up for an innovation award.

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

The Netherlands’ Sapori, Finest Selection from Wim Peters Kwekerijen was a finalist for the fresh produce innovation award for its mini cherry tomatoes, while Tribelli Seedless from Enza Zaden was a finalist for its sweet, seedless, full-flavored mini peppers.

Technology Award Winner

The Fruit Logistica 2026 Innovation Award for Technology went to a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)-based agricultural spraying L50 Drone from Hungary’s ABZ Innovation .

Thanks to its high-performance battery and smart control system, it can remain airborne for significantly longer than comparable aircraft, covering up to 24 hectares, the company says. Its large 50-liter (or about 13.2-gallon) tank makes the L50 Drone particularly well-suited to supporting agricultural businesses with large areas, helping them to apply pesticides and fertilizers efficiently.

“This award is a great recognition of our work and means a lot to us,” said Gyula Törok, chief commercial officer of ABZ Innovation. “We are the first drone manufacturer in Europe to develop this type of drone. Winning the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award shows us that we are on the right track.”

CMI Orchards Recognized for Sustainability Efforts

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:28:12 GMT

Wenatchee, Wash.-based CMI Orchards says it has been named a 2026 SEAL Sustainability Award winner in two categories, earning a Sustainability Innovation recognition for its Planet Positive program and a Sustainable Products honor for its carbon-negative apples, pears and cherries.

CMI says the Sustainability, Environmental Achievement and Leadership Business Awards recognize 50 of the world’s most sustainable companies for environmental initiatives that demonstrate innovation, measurable impact and long-term commitment across industries and geographies. The company adds that these dual awards underscore its global leadership in driving regenerative, climate‑positive tree fruit production and advancing sustainability.

CMI says the SEAL Awards recognize its Planet Positive program, which integrates carbon-negative growing practices, regenerative soil health, waste upcycling and transparent environmental reporting into the company’s orchard systems. The program is designed to benefit more than the environment, providing tangible benefits for growers, retail partners and consumers seeking food produced with integrity and accountability.

“At its core, Planet Positive reflects our belief that farming should leave the land better than we found it,” says Bob Mast, president of CMI. “By cultivating carbon negative orchards, regenerating soil, producing nutrient-rich fruit, upcycling waste and operating with transparency and trust, we’re helping move the fresh produce industry forward while giving families confidence in the food they bring home.”

CMI was also recognized with a SEAL Sustainable Product Award for producing carbon-negative apples, pears and cherries with its tree fruit that offsets and surpasses its on-farm emissions footprint. The Soil Center, a facility that operates a closed-loop system that converts orchard waste into regenerative soil amendments, supports CMI’s carbon-negative efforts.

“This recognition highlights meaningful progress in regenerative agriculture and offers consumers fruit that fully offsets its growing emissions,” says Rose Vejvoda, sustainability manager for CMI. “Between 2022 and 2025, The Soil Center project generated more than 700,000 carbon credits by storing carbon in the soil, where it delivers lasting environmental value. We remain committed to expanding these practices, increasing sequestration and strengthening sustainability across our supply chain.”

Specialty Crops Suffered Staggering Economic Losses in 2025, Will Relief Come in Time?

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 22:27:23 GMT

Economic losses to specialty crops last year were on a level that can put farming operations out of business.

The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates $3.6 billion in economic losses for almonds, $1.4 billion for apples, $763 million for lettuce, and $717 million for potatoes alone.

Specialty crop leaders this week renewed their calls for urgent economic support for U.S. growers and shared their disappointment after the U.S. House released final spending bills Jan. 20 that did not include aid for American specialty crop producers.

While the Specialty Crops Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) says specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery, greenhouse and floriculture products, generate more than $75 billion annually in U.S. agricultural cash receipts, account for more than one-third of all U.S. crop sales and support rural economies nationwide, under the current USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance program, $11 billion is allocated to row crops, and only $1 billion is reserved for specialty crops and other commodities, with key details on eligibility, payment and timing still unresolved.

“It’s a challenge with specialty crops to come up with aggregated data across all the more than 300 different commodities, but the American Farm Bureau Federation has done good analysis related to specialty crops,” says Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and SCFBA co-chair.

“Effectively Farm Bureau is saying that if you’re going to have a relief plan rollout, specialty crops should be about a third of whatever Congress spits out,” he says.

Word on Capitol Hill is Congress is contemplating a total of $15 billion in assistance, SCFBA says.

“We agree with the one-third of whatever Congress comes up with, but also the package has to be large enough to make a material impact,” Quarles says. “The specialty crop industry has told Congress that we need no less than $5 billion in economic relief for specialty crops in order to positively move the needle for growers.

With food affordability still a top focus for many consumers, what happens to the cost of fruits, vegetables and other grocery staples if specialty crops don’t receive the aid they desperately need?

“We’re facing an unprecedented economic crisis in the U.S. right now for agriculture, and it’s not just specialty crops, it’s broader than that,” Quarles says. “If you have growers that are going out of business due to this economic crisis, that’s going to further impact supplies of commodities. It’s going to impact prices, and it will add to the affordability issue.”

Last week SCFBA joined American Farm Bureau Federation and ag organizations across the U.S. in penning a letter to Congress highlighting record-high input costs, labor shortages, weather challenges and historically low market prices that have caused farmers to face negative margins and nearly $100 billion in losses nationwide.

Reasons for Optimism

Quarles says feedback from both the House and Senate appropriations committees on the specialty crop crisis has been encouraging.

“They absolutely understand where we’re coming from,” he says. “The other thing to remember is that there have been fundamental changes in tax policy that were put into law last summer, and they’ve already started to come online. And when some of the trade agreements that have been discussed are finalized, they also could create a more competitive environment, along with the tax policy.”

But could this be a case of too little, too late?

“These policy recommendations could create a much better environment in the future, but if you’re out of business before you ever get to that better environment, it just doesn’t matter,” Quarles says. “So that’s the imperative of this economic relief; we need a short-term safety net or a bridge, whatever you want to call it, to get producers from this crisis into an area where they can start to take advantage of some of these changes.”

Another bright spot, he says, is how effectively the industry, along with he and his SCFBA co-chairs, including Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association; Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association; and Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, are working together.

“The industry has really rallied together under the umbrella of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance,” Quarles says. “Twenty years ago, this was not the way the industry worked, but the alliance has created a kind of muscle memory, where we know how to all get around the table. We know how to look at a particular situation, develop a strategy, and then everybody disperses out to where they have strengths across the United States.”

“It has really been the best of the fresh produce industry rallying together to try to get some relief for our grower members,” he continues. “I’m very hopeful that we’re going to get something positive done here.”

Apple Processing Stocks Climb as Fresh Holdings Dip Below 2025 Levels in Latest USApple Report

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:37:48 GMT

According to the latest USApple Tracker, fresh apple holdings as of Jan. 1 are 7% less than inventories reported in January 2025, but still 4% more than the five-year average for January.

Processing apples are higher year over year, at 47 million bushels, reported in 42-pound bushels, which is 7% more than the inventories reported at this time in 2025. It is also 14% higher than the five-year average for January.

The states with the highest number of apples in storage include:

Washington with 21,497,789 bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 66,396,496 bushels of fresh apples in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage and about 6,733,393 bushels of processing apples in regular storage and 26,619,940 bushels of processing apples in CA storage
New York with 858,716 bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 4,804,213 bushels of fresh apples in CA storage as well as 3,207,408 bushels of processing apples in regular storage and 3,279,122 bushels of processing apples in CA storage
Michigan with 274,000 bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 2,990,000 bushels of fresh apples in CA storage as well as 916,000 bushels of processing apples in regular storage and 2,510,000 processing apples in CA storage

The top varieties in holding include:

Honeycrisp at 20,315,472 bushels
Gala at 19,115,735 bushels
Granny smith at 19,022,557 bushels
Cosmic Crisp at 16,243,810 bushels
Red delicious at 16,221,276 bushels

View the latest report online .

How the Apple Industry Unites for a National Push to Increase Market Demand

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:10:22 GMT

While apples are the No. 2 fresh fruit item consumers purchase, according to The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2026 survey, consumption overall has plateaued. An effort launched a little more than two years ago aims to change that.

“Eat More Apples” is a grassroots campaign made up of apple growers, marketers and produce industry insiders. It seeks to tap into the health and wellness benefits of apples and connect with younger consumers, who are less likely to buy apples.

“We’re still in our early stages,” says Kaari Stannard, president and CEO of Yes Apples and The Packer’s 2020 Apple Person of the Year. “The goal is rising tides raise all boats. We’re at a situation in our industry that we’ve got consumption going down for whatever reason, you could pinpoint a thousand different reasons, but we have to act now, and we have to act together as an industry.”

Stannard, an Eat More Apples board member, says this time to act goes beyond individual state efforts to drive consumption; it needs to be an industrywide effort.

“The goal is to grow consumption and educate our consumers,” she says. “Really, truly educate them.”

Stannard points out that while there are many apple marketers from across the country from California, Idaho, Utah, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Washington, the “Eat More Apples” campaign “is not to educate the consumer and push one brand; that’s also the differentiation. In fact, what we’re trying to do is educate on all apples.”

“My goal out of that is to have a seat at the table, be working collaboratively with these people and to hopefully get our younger people eating more apples, because we have a great product,” she adds. “We are the produce that is grab-and-go. We have all the health benefits.”

The Need

“What we need to do is break through the noise of the confusion, because there are so many [varieties],” Stannard says. “That’s the good and the bad.”

Julie DeJarnatt, vice president of marketing and brand strategy for Chelan Fresh and The Packer’s 2025 Apple Person of the Year, says this effort is in tandem with retailers, helping to boost overall consumption.

“Too many times, I think, in the past, a lot of marketing stops at the retailer,” she says. “But there hasn’t been that kind of pull from the customer as well.”

DeJarnatt, who is a board member of Eat More Apples, says this campaign seeks to create an increased demand for apples, which will fuel higher returns.

“As consumption goes down, you don’t want the footprint getting reduced because there’s other things out there,” she says. “We’re coming along and helping partner with [retailers] to create the demand that we all want and need for this category.”

DeJarnatt says she’s appreciative of all of the support the “Eat More Apples” campaign has had so far, especially as a volunteer-only effort.

“It blows me away how much the industry has stepped in and supported the initiative and [how] so many grower families out there that are really, really dependent and hopeful that this is going to pay dividends back to them,” she says.

Campaign’s Next Steps

DeJarnatt and board member Brenda Briggs, vice president of sales and marketing with Rice Fruit Co., say the campaign is in the process of understanding the results of a health and wellness messaging survey.

Eat More Apples centered the messaging around different pillars of health and wellness and then surveyed more than 6,000 consumers about both general apple knowledge and how health and wellness influencers impacted that perception to gauge what type of messaging most resonates with each generation.

“Part of our research coming into this project showed us that the younger consumers are the ones that are eating fewer apples and buying other items,” Briggs says. “So, that needs to be a strong focus of what we’re doing across the generations.”

DeJarnatt says early results highlight messaging around gut health resonated the most, compared to mental health, hydration and recovery and more.

“It’s also going to give us the demographics of which one of the messages lands better with the different demographics — the young males versus maybe somebody who’s a little bit older with different health concerns,” she says.

Then DeJarnatt says Eat More Apples will create an agency request for proposal to launch the messaging at a national scale. That will take some fundraising, she adds.

“Our industry has shown up in a good way to help with some seed money,” she says. “Partners of our industry have shown up. You have people like Storage Control Systems and Wilbur Ellis and those partners who have said: ‘This is important to those growers I support.’”

However, DeJarnatt and Briggs say the funding for this effort needs to look beyond growers to help bring forth this objective.

“We’re working through that fundraising strategy now and lining up our cause with the potential donors — who could come in from private funds, public funds, all of that — in order to get the funding needed to launch that national-scale campaign,” she says.

Campaign Goals

Briggs says a major goal for the project is to get consumers more engaged with apples in a way that truly drives placement in grocery stores.

“We want people to really understand the health benefits and really embrace the product and then experiment with the different varieties out there,” she says. “There’s never been a time in the industry where we’ve had better-tasting apples across the country.”

Briggs says the industry has focused so much attention on advertising to peers and retailers that she sees a strong potential in connecting directly with consumers to drive excitement.

“We want a whole new generation of people grabbing apples because they enjoy them and they know they’re good for them,” she says.

DeJarnatt says she also sees opportunities for the next generation of apple growers to take over the family farm without worry about the future.

“Not just [for them to] feel like they can survive and struggle, but they can actually thrive in the growing industry again,” she says. “There’s no more that this industry could be doing to grow the apples that they are [than] to sustain the families that are behind them. It’s not enough in today’s environment with the movement that we have.”

Briggs also hopes the “Eat More Apples” effort will help growers have a more profitable future.

“If we could get to a point where growers are profitable and not under such strain as they’ve been under for the last decade or more, it would be spectacular,” she says.

This effort to drive consumption and emphasize health messaging will benefit not only consumers but also growers, Briggs adds.

“It is such a wonderful piece of fruit,” she says. “It’s got flavor, you don’t have to force it on your kid, and it’s got the soluble and insoluble fiber. It’s going to do so many things to help that child, so that’s a huge win. It also gives the growers something to feel like they can be sustainable over time and the fruit that they’re growing is going to be one that has got high demand, and [it gives] something that their family can continue on for future generations. Farming is not a job; it’s a way of life.”

What You and Your Shoppers Need to Know About Controlled Atmosphere Apples

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:47:06 GMT

When a consumer bites into a crisp apple in August, it’s a feat of modern science and engineering.

Controlled atmosphere (CA) apple storage is nothing new in the fresh produce industry. In fact, the first commercial use began in the late 1920s and early 1930s in England and has since been enhanced during decades of research.

Many consumers assume stored apples are old, but that’s obviously not the case, says Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers.

“People equate freshly harvested to the fruit being fresh,” Shales says. “In fact, we reserve some of the best apples for longer-term storage because they have the starch reserves and overall quality to ensure they are crisp, juicy and fresh-tasting even in the summer months.”

Despite potential fears of “old apples,” those in the fresh produce industry say consumers should understand how natural the process is and how necessary the process is to meet the demands of apple availability 12 months out of the year.

“There’s no solution to meeting the retailers’ needs and marketers’ needs and ultimately the consumer’s needs without this technology,” says Duncan Aust, chief technology officer for AgroFresh.

Shales says it’s important for the fresh produce industry to debunk these myths and help consumers better understand the advantages of CA-stored apples.

“It’s important to walk consumers through the CA process in easy-to-understand terms so that they can see how the physiological makeup of an apple allows for a process like CA to benefit the eating experience,” she says. “Share how planning and precision of taking them out of CA and quickly packing/shipping them to retail stores ensures we put the freshness back into their hands.”

What is Controlled Atmosphere Storage?

Essentially, CA storage rooms are airtight rooms with cooling capabilities tailored to a specific apple variety.

Picked apples are still living, breathing organisms. Once picked, apples undergo a quick cooling and are then put into CA storage rooms to stop the ripening process. Once sealed, these rooms change the air inside the room to drop the oxygen down to a point that keeps the apples alive, but not enough to continue the ripening agent.

Packinghouses raise the carbon dioxide in these rooms to slow the apples’ metabolism. Other technology adds nitrogen to displace the oxygen in the room, and packers can either deploy 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to slow the ripening process or use machines to scrub out ethylene.

Apples can stay in this state for six to 12 months, and growers and packers often select fruit that are mature but not fully ripe to enter storage for longer months.

“What the technology does is basically puts the apples to sleep, almost. It’s like suspended animation,” Aust says. “We take the apples, we put them in a chamber and we basically lower the concentration of the oxygen. We lower the temperature, and we monitor what’s going on with those apples as they slow down their respiration rate. And that allows those apples to then stay in there for many, many months to meet the need.”

Why Are Apples Placed in CA Storage?

Aust says CA storage helps keep U.S.-grown apples available in stores for longer stretches beyond the typical harvest window of August to early November. As consumers expect to see apples available year-round, CA storage is a necessary means to provide that availability. Aust notes that without CA storage, apples would be imported to somewhat meet the demand.

“There’s no possible way that could be done without coming up with solutions and/or technologies to be able to preserve those apples, short of buying them from other countries all over the world and paying a lot of money to have them shipped in by boat and by plane,” he says. “That would ultimately cost a load more money, and even then we wouldn’t have around a 12-month supply.”

Aust says another important part of CA storage is how it helps prevent massive food waste.

“If we didn’t do that, the vast majority of the apples we picked would go to waste, because we’d never be able to consume them in that period of time when they were fresh,” he says. “There’s so many benefits to this CA storage.”

Shales agrees, noting that apples in CA storage help reduce food miles as well as deliver great-tasting fruit.

“The consistency in the eating experience is a huge advantage of CA storage, as well as being able to purchase U.S.-grown apples, and in many cases from regional farms, close to the shopper’s backyard,” she says. “It not only extends Washington’s season but also New York and Michigan. Retailers don’t need to rely on importing products, which keeps dollars coming from the U.S. consumer back to the U.S. farm producer.”

Jim Schaefer, owner of Storage Control Systems, says controlled atmosphere storage is a process his grandfather did in the 1950s but has been enhanced in the decades since by research and modern technology.

(Photo courtesy of Storage Control Systems)

What to Know About CA Storage

Jim Schaefer, owner of Storage Control Systems, which is a manufacturer and supplier of CA storage, says it’s important to remember that this process, albeit refined thanks to research and modern technology, is something his grandfather did back in the 1950s.

“We’ve been doing this a long, long time, and we’ve perfected it,” he says. “From the five months that my grandpa stored fruit, now you have all your chains that want a constant 12-month supply.”

Aust says CA storage is a highly researched and highly regulated process, so consumers shouldn’t be afraid to eat apples that come out of storage and have been washed, sorted and packed.

“The perception that these apples are put into these rooms and treated with a whole load of nasty chemicals, and ‘What am I eating?’” he says. “Not true.”

Schaefer says researchers have perfected strategies for each variety so when a consumer buys a Honeycrisp, gala or Cosmic Crisp, it’s a good eating experience.

“Every variety now has a recipe or a regimen that they’re stored at,” he says. “And over time, the universities have helped immensely.”

Aust also says researchers have spent time to understand how apples change in storage, as well as how flavors develop in storage and once out of storage.

“It’s taken decades for people to work all of that out for all the different varieties of apples,” he says.

Other things Aust says are important to know are that most apples in short-term storage aren’t treated with any chemicals, but those that are in long-term storage might be treated with a fungicide to deter any pathogens from developing in storage. All approved chemistries are highly regulated by the EPA, and all apples coming out of storage go through a vigorous washing process, he adds.

“But even then, when those apples are taken out of that room, they’re put down processing lines, they’re washed, they’re cleaned, they’re sanitized, they’re packed,” he explains.

Aust says some packers also deploy 1-MCP, which mimics a plant’s natural ethylene hormone, and it blocks the ethylene receptors in produce, also helping to slow the ripening process.

These CA storage facilities also have ample access to technology that Aust says helps packing operations understand exactly what’s going on in each room. This way, packing facilities prioritize when apples come out of storage to deliver a premium eating experience for consumers.

“This takes that guesswork out of the way,” Aust says. “It gives them the ability to, in real time, understand what’s going on and make decisions based on that so that they don’t open a room, heaven forbid, and the apples are too far gone and they lose all of that. They have visibility that they can make sure that they can go in at the right time, take them out at the right time and get them to where they need to go at the highest quality.”

Schaefer also says his company offers dynamic CA technology to help fine-tune packouts by detailing the respiration rate of the apples in storage.

“By knowing the respiration rate, it’s telling you how fast it’s breathing,” he says. “The faster the fruit is breathing, the earlier it needs to be packed, and even if it was starting to develop some internal issues, it will breathe harder and go to the top of the list. So, the technology’s out there that if you can start listening to the fruit, you’re going to know when to pack it and what room is going to go long.”

Shales says it’s important to highlight the critical role that CA storage plays in the tree fruit industry.

“Apple production would not be at the volume it is nationally without CA storage, nor would many farms exist,” she says. “Apple consumption is not at stellar levels in the U.S., but without CA storage, it wouldn’t even be where it is today. As a food that provides numerous health benefits, that is not something I’d want to see.”

Bottom Line

One thing to remember, Schaefer says, is that not only is CA storage a natural process, it’s also used for organic apples.

“It’s a natural process that really our forefathers used and we use today,” he says. “How many things are like that? How many things can you say that this is what they did in 1958 and we’re really still doing them today, but we’ve refined them with better technology of oxygen and CO₂ analyzers.”

Aust says it is also important to stress the science and research that has gone into CA storage.

“There’s decades of science and regulatory work that’s gone into making sure that, at the end of the day, these processes produce the best and highest-quality apples so that we’re going to enjoy them and enjoy eating them and be safe,” he says, adding that consumers should realize “the amount of science, the decades of research, the amount of technology that goes into giving them that box of fresh apples whenever they want it.”

Shales says the industry should tout the advantages CA-stored apples provide so that produce managers and store staff can better communicate that information to inquiring consumers.

“As an industry, the biggest message we should share to consumers is that they can be confident in purchasing apples that will be crisp, juicy and delicious no matter what time of year it is,” she says. “That is a journey that we’ll never fully arrive at the destination but must keep striving for. Consistency and flavor are key to growing consumption.”

Apple Marketing Strategies That Drive Results

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 16:45:16 GMT

Apples remain one of the most recognizable and widely purchased items in the produce department, but familiarity alone no longer guarantees growth. As retailers face intensified competition for shopper attention and shippers manage a growing assortment of varieties, apple marketing has become more intentional and data-driven than ever.

Perspectives from Sprouts Farmers Markets, The Save Mart Cos. and Northeast Shared Services, alongside grower-shippers such as Rice Fruit Co. and Chelan Fresh, show how merchandising, promotions and consumer education are aligning with USDA insights to shape the future of apple sales.

Strategic apple marketing throughout the year relies on high-volume variety rotation and competitive packaging to maintain consumer interest, a trend clearly reflected in the late-December USDA National Retail Report for Specialty Crops, which shows apples commanding 19% of all fruit advertisements. While this specific report captures a holiday-driven peak in volume, it highlights the broader retail strategy of using core varieties like granny smith and Honeycrisp to anchor the produce department year-round.

Based on the report, apples were the primary focus of holiday fruit marketing, leading all fruit advertisements, which accounted for 19% of total fruit ads and 10% of all conventional produce advertisements. This prominence is even more pronounced in the organic sector, where apples account for 13% of all organic ads.

Retailers have maintained high volumes of apple features to cater to holiday meal preparation and snacking, keeping them at the top of USDA’s “Top 5 Commodities Featured This Week” list.

Several specific varieties and pricing trends from the report include:

Variety popularity — High-volume varieties include granny smith and Honeycrisp. Granny smith is particularly dominant in conventional ads, with 6,659 ads for per-pound sales at a weighted average price of $1.74, according to the USDA report. Honeycrisp remains a premium favorite, with nearly 5,000 ads for per-pound sales at a weighted average price of $2.06.
Pricing shifts — While many prices remained stable, some varieties saw notable changes. For instance, Honeycrisp 3-pound bags experienced a significant price drop to a weighted average of $2.44 that week, down from $5.41 the previous week. Conversely, newer varieties like Cosmic Crisp saw price increase to $1.69 per pound, compared to $1.57 the previous week.
Organic market — In the organic category, gala/royal gala and granny smith are the most advertised varieties, typically sold in 2-pound bags with a weighted average price of approximately $4.99.

When it comes to promoting in-store strategies for apple sales, Andy Vargas, senior category manager for fruits at The Save Mart Cos., says the most effective approach combines visibility with trial.

(Photo courtesy of The Save Mart Cos.)

Retail View: The Save Mart Cos.

When it comes to promoting in-store strategies for apple sales, Andy Vargas, senior category manager for fruits at The Save Mart Cos., says the most effective approach combines visibility with trial.

“Specialty and club apples perform best when placed at the front of the department or in lobby spillover displays where shoppers encounter them immediately,” Vargas says. “Sampling is especially important for newer varieties, helping customers understand flavor, texture and usage before committing to a purchase.”

Todd Smith, senior category manager of FoodMaxx Produce for The Save Mart Cos., adds: “Strategy varies by variety. Core apples rely on consistent value and everyday pricing, while club apples require education and storytelling. Timing, seasonality and clear communication around flavor and texture are essential. Innovation does not sell itself. It needs context to convert.”

Seasonality drives promotion decisions, Vargas says.

“Apples peak at different times, and some improve after harvest while others are best immediately,” he explains. “Close collaboration with growers allows us to promote each variety at its best flavor window, ensuring a better eating experience for the customer.”

“We plan promotional calendars in advance but stay flexible,” Smith says. “Understanding harvest timing, region and quality allows us to pivot quickly when availability or pricing improves. Local and regional sourcing adds credibility and strengthens customer trust, especially when there is a clear grower story.”

Too much choice can create hesitation, Vargas notes.

“Apples are familiar, but an overload of varieties can overwhelm shoppers,” he says. “The solution is focus through rotation, clear pricing and sampling that guides customers toward confident decisions.”

Serving different household needs within one category is another challenge, Smith adds.

“Some shoppers want large apples for baking; others prefer smaller fruit for kids or snacking,” he says. “Offering a mix of bulk, bagged and by-each options helps remove friction and makes the category accessible to everyone.”

Vargas says the retailer views the grassroots “Eat More Apples” campaign as a great opportunity.

“Apples are a top produce category, and aligning messaging around versatility, health and usage beyond snacking can help drive incremental consumption,” he says.

“Education and inspiration drive engagement,” Smith says. “Apples perform best when shoppers see them as versatile ingredients, not just grab-and-go snacks.”

In feedback received at the store level, Vargas says, shoppers most often ask where the apple is grown and what it tastes like. Flavor profile, sweetness, tartness and texture are key decision drivers that are not visible at first glance. Clear signage and knowledgeable associates help bridge that gap, he explains.

“Customers also ask about seasonality and best uses,” Smith adds. “When we provide guidance at the point of sale, it builds confidence and encourages repeat purchases across the category.”

Pricing starts with market awareness.

“Customers have strong expectations around apple pricing, particularly for core varieties. Promotional pricing on newer or premium apples helps encourage trial without disrupting value perception,” Vargas says.

“Everyday low pricing is critical for core items in a value format,” Smith says. “Club apples benefit from strategic promotional cycles. The key is balancing trial and profitability to protect long-term category health.”

Consumers are expanding their apple usage beyond snacking, Smith notes.

“Baking, cooking and seasonal meal applications are growing, especially around back-to-school and holidays,” he says. “Promoting the right apple for the right occasion keeps the category relevant year-round.”

Apples are such a staple that they can be overlooked in favor of newer fruit options, Vargas adds.

“Innovation keeps the category fresh and draws attention back to apples, even among loyal core buyers,” he says.

Industry Takeaways:

Apples perform best when confidence replaces confusion. Shoppers want guidance, not just more options, Smith says.
Innovation drives attention, but execution drives loyalty. A positive trial experience benefits the entire category, Smith says.
Apples are no longer seasonal-only. With the right storytelling, they remain relevant across the calendar, Vargas says.
The future of apples is not about assortment expansion; it is about clarity, timing and trust, Vargas says.

Retail View: Sprouts Farmers Markets

Erin Tice, national senior category manager for bananas, cherries, apples and pears at Sprouts Farmers Market says the company focuses on its best-performing varieties and makes it easy for customers to understand flavor, seasonality and usage.

“Sampling is especially effective in helping shoppers navigate similar-looking varieties and discover new favorites,” Tice says. “Larger stores allow us to expand assortment, while smaller formats benefit from a more curated approach.”

Sprouts highlights seasonality and local sourcing whenever possible.

“Clear signage and storytelling around freshness and peak availability help reinforce quality and create a stronger connection with our customers,” she explains.

Tice says one of the biggest challenges is helping customers navigate the wide range of varieties, particularly red apples that can look similar.

“We address this with clear flavor descriptors, simplified assortments and sampling to drive trial and confidence,” she says.

Sprouts fully supports the “Eat More Apples” campaign and its mission.

“Through in-store signage, social media and recipe inspiration, we encourage customers to snack more, cook more and try new apple varieties,” Tice says.

Feedback from customers includes curiosity about apple varieties.

“Customers often ask about flavor differences, freshness and when certain varieties are at their peak,” she says. “We’re also seeing increased interest in how apples are grown, including sustainability and organic options.”

Promotions are guided by seasonality, availability and what resonates most with Sprouts customers, Tice explains.

“The goal is to offer strong value while encouraging trial and repeat purchases,” she says.

Sprouts is noticing growing interest in apples.

“We’re seeing growing interest in unique flavor profiles, clearly branded varieties and sustainably grown apples,” Tice says. “Convenience also matters; apples as healthy, on-the-go snacks are gaining traction, along with increased use in juicing and savory recipes.”

Retail View: Northeast Shared Services

As the central support hub for Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Market, Northeast Shared Services helps promote sales by placing the apple table near the front of the department, says Mathew Blair, produce category business manager for the company.

“As customers enter the store and look down the produce aisle, they are immediately met with a large, colorful apple display positioned front and center, which captures attention and draws them into the department,” he says. “In addition, rotating promotions within the category helps drive sales across all segments, including bagged, bulk and tote apples.”

Blair says the stores promote apples at peak freshness to leverage seasonal availability.

“In the fall season, we feature larger, more prominent displays and use seasonal signage on each variety of apple to call out the specific characteristics of each variety of apple,” he explains.

Regarding the “Eat More Apples” campaign, Blair says the stores use several merchandising strategies that align to increase apple consumption.

“While an apple table naturally encourages simple, fresh snacking, cross-merchandising helps introduce additional usage ideas and inspires customers as they shop the category,” he says. “By placing complementary items such as pie crusts near apple varieties commonly used for baking, or incorporating caramel apple dip into the display, we create a more engaging and solution-oriented shopping experience. These strategies help drive incremental apple sales and ultimately supports increased overall apple consumption.”

Blair says the most common customer question is about which apple is best for a particular use.

“Whether they are looking for a good snacking apple, a variety suited for baking, a softer texture or a crisp, crunchy option, customers frequently seek guidance to make the right selection. To support this, we utilize small variety-level signs that highlight key characteristics, helping customers easily identify the apple that best meets their needs,” he says. “This approach improves the shopping experience and helps ensure customers are satisfied with their purchase and receive exactly what they expect.”

Many factors are considered when developing pricing strategies and promotional offers, Blair says.

“Market conditions and customer demand largely influence cost, and we aim to lean into items when they are at peak season and freshness,” he explains. “Promoting apples at their optimal quality helps deliver the best possible eating experience, which in turn encourages repeat purchases. Poorly timed promotions, on the other hand, can result in a less impactful experience that lacks a ‘wow’ factor and may reduce the likelihood of future purchases.”

Blair says grocers are seeing strong interest in new and premium apple varieties, with shoppers becoming increasingly curious and willing to pay a premium for unique flavor profiles and enhanced texture experiences.

“At the same time, traditional mainline varieties such as red delicious, cortland and macoun have experienced a decline in sales over the past several years as customers continue to upgrade their purchasing decisions toward premium apple offerings,” he adds.

Rice Fruit Co. leverages seasonal availability and local sourcing to market apples to its customers.

(Photo courtesy of Rice Fruit Co.)

Grower-Shipper Strategies: Supporting Retail Success

Rice Fruit Co. leverages seasonal availability and local sourcing to market apples to its customers.

“We focus on community and supporting your local farms,” says Valerie Ramsburg, the company’s content marketing manager. “Rice Fruit Co. works with over 40 farm families, concentrated in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. With innovative storage technology, we can store apples at their peak freshness in a controlled atmosphere room. When those rooms are opened throughout the season, it continues our availability well into the spring and summer. We like to think that it’s always apple season.”

Ramsburg says balancing what consumers love, what grows well and what stores well is always at the top of mind when planning programs.

“Offering plenty of variety is a necessity, along with offering apples that provide color breaks and unique flavors,” she says. “Bright and engaging packaging is extremely helpful for both brand recognition and repeat purchases. Consumers also like to have choices they can feel good about, like supporting their local farming families.”

Of the “Eat More Apples” campaign, Ramsburg says the heart of the campaign focuses on increasing apple consumption for Americans.

“Considerable time and research have been spent on the extensive health benefits of apples. They provide almost 25% of daily fiber (of which nine out of 10 people are short on); they satiate hunger, especially when paired with a protein; and are a natural source of electrolytes,” she says. “Much of this information is either unknown or has been forgotten behind the slogan, ‘An apple a day.’ We’ve said this for decades, and it’s become so commonplace that people often forget why they should be eating apples daily. The job of this campaign is to reinforce those health benefits as well as tell the stories of American farmers who work tirelessly to bring these crops to your table.”

Ramsburg says common questions about the company’s apples involve how and where they are grown, as well as agricultural practices.

“Consumers are interested in educating themselves and learning about where their food is grown and what steps the farmers are taking to preserve land and ecosystems for future generations,” she says. “They want to know what sets us apart and, quite honestly, we love to tell our story. Rice Fruit Co. will celebrate 113 years in business this year.”

Shoppers crave education on the specific health and wellness benefits of fresh apples and are inspired by creative sampling pairings that showcase a new way to incorporate more fresh apples into their daily diet, says Julie DeJarnatt, vice president of marketing and brand strategy for Chelan Fresh.

Educating consumers about varieties is one challenge in marketing, she notes.

“Consumers need help navigating the sea of bicolored red apples,” DeJarnatt says. “An apple is not just an apple; there is a wide range of flavor and texture nuances between varieties that may look similar from the outside.”

Chelan Fresh is tapping into the food-as-medicine movement by incorporating educational messaging around gut health, mental health, hydration and energy into its marketing campaigns.

Supply Issues with Honeybees and Apple Trees

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 17:42:57 GMT

While the produce industry is no stranger to supply and demand issues, a couple stories in 2025 shined a light on some less common supply problems that will continue with us in 2026 (and likely beyond).

On the one hand, in late January, a survey of U.S. beekeepers uncovered a staggering 62% loss of commercial honeybee colonies across the U.S. A follow-up survey went out to find out the cause, but by the end of February, experts still didn’t know the answer. The Packer’s Jennifer Strailey went into detail on what honeybee experts do know about the losses .

Historically, honeybees have been declining for a number of interrelated reasons. While the significant decline discovered in January might be due to those usual reasons, “it could be a new, novel disease, an environmental stressor that we hadn’t thought about or a combination of many things,” said one of Strailey’s sources.

Given the long-term trend in colony losses, it is certain this will be a dynamic in 2026 and beyond.

On the other hand, during the U.S. Apple Outlook conference in mid-August, experts presented the industry’s problem: Too many of the wrong kind of apple trees are still in growing in orchards while consumers demand new varieties at the store.

The Packer’s Christina Herrick summed the problem up with the question: “ Is it time to pull out apple trees ?” The answer, it seems, is a resounding “yes.”

“At the end of the day, we know the answer, so we can either do it by choice or by force,” said one expert who highlighted the historic trends across varieties. “I think we will expect large orchard removal starting after this crop year.”

Shifts in orchards will, of course, take time, so this too will play out in 2026 and in years beyond.

Chris Hedges Returns as Ontario Apple Growers Chair

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:55:37 GMT

Chris Hedges has been re-elected as the chair of the Ontario Apple Growers for another one-year term, and Jeremy Veens of Lambton County becomes the organization’s new vice chair, the OAG announced Dec. 18.

“I’m grateful for the confidence my fellow apple growers have shown in me by asking me to continue to lead their organization,” Hedges says. “Ontario’s apple industry continues to face significant challenges, and OAG remains focused on advocating for policies and programs that support a strong, competitive and economically sustainable apple industry.”

Hedges first became chair of OAG in 2024, after completing one year as vice chair. He first served as an OAG director from 2005 to 2012 and returned to the board for his current tenure in 2020. He farms with his wife near Vanessa and also owns and manages Ontario Orchard Supply, providing orchard supplies to growers across the province.

New vice chair Jeremy Veens farms with his spouse at Veens Family Orchards in Lambton County. They grow a mix of apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, gala, Ambrosia and fuji apples. Veens joined the OAG board as a director in 2022 after serving two years as a grower committee representative and brings both production and business perspectives to the vice chair role.

“I’m honored to step into the role of vice chair and to support the important work OAG does on behalf of growers,” Veens says. “Strong advocacy and collaboration are essential as our industry adapts to changing markets, costs and growing conditions.”

The OAG chair and vice chair are elected annually by the board of directors. In addition to Hedges and Veens, the OAG board includes directors Chris Geerts, Craig Van Ymeren, Brian Gilroy, Kyle Ardiel, Robert Shuh, Kara Pate, Charles Stevens and Quinton Gibson.

How Honeybear’s Analytics Helps Retailers Maximize Category Management

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:45:04 GMT

Honeybear Brands , a grower, marketer and developer of premium conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries, says its Honeybear Insights Team (H.I.T.) helps retailers optimize assortment, pricing and promotions with its category intelligence.

Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing at Honeybear Brands, says this data helps get new varieties into retailers as well as helps retailers plan for more space for other established varieties.

“We don’t skew it towards Honeybear,” he says. “If there’s a variety out there that we don’t grow that really sells well, we’ll tell them that. We’re not biased in how we run our numbers.”

As part of the data, the Honeybear Insights Team evaluates category performance, shopper behavior and pricing strategies to better help retailers be positioned to meet consumer demand.

As an example, Sinks says a meeting with an East Coast retailer highlighted the retailer’s need to move more New York apples. Sinks says the data helped the retailer increase shelf space for New York varieties and cut back on some Washington varieties to help give those New-York-grown apples a spotlight through the season.

Sinks says this helps build trust with these retailers.

“They know that if we’re making recommendations that won’t really help our business, they know they can trust us when we’re telling them things that will help our business,” he says.

Sinks also says this data and insights go beyond apples and pears.

“With the subscriptions that we have and the data we have, we’re able to look at a lot of different categories,” he says. “It’s not just apples and pears. We can look at a lot of different categories and with that, we can make all sorts of recommendations.”

Sinks says these insights are extremely valuable for time-pressed produce managers.

“We’re here to be a full business partner,” he says. “In the category, sometimes some of these retailers don’t really have access to it or don’t study the numbers and go from history and when that history has changed over the years, it can impact their sales.”

The USDA’s 2025 Organic Survey is Coming Soon

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:30:57 GMT

If you’re an organic grower, keep a watch on your mailbox. The 2025 Organic Survey is headed your way.

USDA announced Dec. 10 that the National Agricultural Statistics Service will soon mail the survey to all known organic farms and ranches, as well as producers who are transitioning to certified organic, across all 50 states. Growers will first receive survey codes with an invitation to reply online, followed by the full questionnaire in early January, according to NASS. The questionnaire will ask producers to provide information on acreage, production and sales, as well as production and marketing practices.

“Organic agriculture is a growing industry, and it is our job as a federal statistical agency to help measure this part of the agriculture sector,” NASS Administrator Joseph Parsons says. “We are excited to provide data on organic agriculture that will help inform organic producers and other industry professionals to make informed decisions for their operations.”

Federal laws require producers to respond to the survey, as well as requiring USDA to keep respondents’ identities and responses confidential. The deadline for response is Feb. 5, 2026.

Organic Information of the Past

The USDA organic survey is a special study from the Census of Agriculture and was last conducted in 2021 .

That survey reported there were 17,445 certified organic farms in 2021, up 5% from 2019, and 4.9 million organic acres. California led the states with 3,061 certified operations and 813,710 organic acres. Indiana saw the largest proportional growth in operations at 697 in 2021 compared to 595 in 2019, a 17% increase, while Idaho saw the largest proportional growth of organic acres at 215,668, a 19% increase compared to 2019.

In 2021, the market value of certified organic products sold stood at $11.2 billion, up 13% compared to 2019. Produce items on the top 10 list by market value included apples ($629 million), strawberries ($336 million), grapes ($309 million) and lettuce ($276 million).

The results of this new organic survey will be available Oct. 30, 2026, according to NASS.

New Washington Fruit Growers PLU Sticker Highlights Sustainability, Health Benefits

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:29:00 GMT

Washington Fruit Growers has debuted a new PLU sticker designed to connect shoppers to the story and values behind its fruits.

The company says the sticker, in the shape of the Liberty Bell, pays tribute to its long-standing logo, which is a symbol of its roots and commitment to quality.

Family-owned and led by third and fourth generations, the company says its refreshed design helps promote its ongoing focus on quality and transparency.

“This update connects our past and future in a meaningful way,” says Tommy Hanses, CEO of Washington Fruit Growers. “We’re proud to offer not only premium-quality fruit but also a simple way for shoppers to see the care and responsibility behind everything we grow.”

The updated sticker features a QR code that gives consumers instant access to information about:

The health benefits of apples, pears and cherries.
Washington Fruit’s organic program, sustainability efforts and food safety initiatives.
Its dedication to quality.

Washington Fruit Growers says its new PLU stickers have been introduced to its conventional and organic apples hitting produce departments this season.

“As more consumers — especially younger generations — want to know where their food comes from and how it’s grown, we saw an opportunity to make that information easily accessible,” Hanses says. “By simply scanning the QR code, shoppers can learn about the health benefits of our fruit, the sustainable practices we use and the steps we take to ensure quality and safety every step of the way.”

Iowa’s Apple Comeback: How Modern Science Is Reviving a Pre-War Legacy

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 19:36:41 GMT

Before World War II, Iowa ranked among the top apple-producing states in the country. Today, researchers at Iowa State University are working to bring that legacy back, using modern orchard systems that help growers produce more fruit on less land.

“It’s an orchard packed with more than just fruit,” says Suzanne Slack, assistant professor of horticulture at Iowa State. “This orchard has rows of research — with each tree bearing lessons on the best way to grow apples in the state.”

Building on a Storied Apple History

Iowa has a long relationship with apples, and Slack wants to see that history blossom again.

“Iowa, like I said, has a rich history of producing apples,” Slack explains. “Before World War II, we were one of the top apple-producing states in the nation, true story, and we wanted to see what we could do to help bring back some apple production in Iowa.”

Where Slack stands isn’t just any orchard. It’s a research station that’s been part of Iowa State since the 1960s, founded by renowned apple breeder Spencer Beach.

“He developed quite a few different apple cultivars that we still eat today, like Cortland apples are one of his most favorite ones, or Chieftain, which are the yellow ones behind us,” Slack says. “We’ve had a legacy of apples in Iowa ever since.”

A Modern Orchard for a Modern Era

Slack joined Iowa State in 2021 with a clear mission — to help Iowa growers produce more apples from every tree. Her latest project is a 2-year-old orchard that looks very different from traditional Iowa orchards.

“This orchard here was planted in ’23, so it’s 2 years old,” Slack says. “As you can see, it’s full of apples. The one behind us is a Blondie — aptly named — apple, very cute. And what this is, it’s called a high-density trellising system.”

The design, known as a modified super spindle system, is common in places like Washington state and the Northeast — but rare in Iowa.

“Basically, what we’re doing is we are trying out some of the Midwest heritage apples, or apples that people expect to find in Iowa, on this system to see if they can produce apples at the same rate as a larger tree,” Slack explains.

High-Density Systems: Doing More with Less

Across Iowa, about 300 apple varieties are grown by nearly 500 growers. Slack and her team hope their research will help those growers decide whether high-density planting can work in the Midwest.

“It’s easier to pick, easier to manage, it’s easier to spray, you have less disease problems, you get actually more apples faster,” Slack says. “An apple tree, if you plant it like a standard one, it could take five to six years to make your money back. You’ll make your money back pretty quickly on this one, even with the added cost of the trellis.”

And this orchard isn’t even planted at full density.

“You can actually plant a tree in between every single one of these for 18-inch spacing, like a tomato,” she says.

The trees are pruned constantly to stay compact and productive.

“These branches actually are pruned in a renewal style, so every branch you see with an apple on it is eventually going to be removed,” Slack explains. “We don’t have any permanent scaffolding. The only thing that’s actually permanent is the stem or the main leader of the tree, and the way we can keep them small is we’re just constantly doing pruning on them.”

Finding What Works in Iowa

Not every variety adapts equally well to the trellis system.

“Honeycrisp and Gala love this system of growing,” Slack says. “They make their apples on spurs — so the branch comes out, then they make their little spurs and you see these big clusters of apples. Easy to pick, it’s great. They can make a lot of apples in a little space.”

Others, however, don’t perform as well.

“Granny Smith is probably the most popular household name that doesn’t like this system,” Slack says. “It’s because they make their apples actually on the tips of the branches, and I just said we cut all the branches off. We do all this renewal pruning on them, so we’re actually removing a lot of our fruit whenever we try to grow them on this system.”

A Future for Iowa’s Apple Growers

For Slack, this research isn’t just about science; it’s about creating opportunity for more Iowa growers.

“I hope that they can get more bang for their buck,” Slack says. “They can have apples, people can pick them, they can sell them. They can also reduce their space, have less labor costs, less pesticide costs. And I think it could make it more commercially viable for more folks in the state.”

Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: Sustainability in the Spotlight

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:10:06 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — CMI Orchards recently debuted its consumer-facing Planet Positive sustainability brand, which it showcased at the International Fresh Produce Association’s recent Global Produce and Floral Show.

The company says this new brand is designed to highlight its sustainability goals, with consumers’ increasing interest in transparency when it comes to sustainability efforts.

“It’s our way to communicate efficiencies, regenerative agriculture and climate-smart practices,” says Rochell Bohm, vice president of marketing at CMI Orchards.

Shown in front, from left, are Julio Parades, Bob Wymore, Rochelle Bohm, Brenda Calvillo, Raquel Briseno, Joe Denham, Ralph Briseno, Danielle Huber, Joel Hewitt, and in back, from left, Bob Mast, Steve Clement, AJ Jackson, Rob Lewis, Loren Foss, Rich Mendosa, Willam Gant and Ellie Tucker at CMI Orchards’ booth at the Global Produce and Floral Show.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Sustainability is a low purchase driver, Bohm says, but nutrition is not. With Planet Positive, CMI Orchards wants to link regenerative ag to nutrition in the minds of consumers by using nutrient data analysis. Bohm says there are significant findings of zinc and more nutrients in the soil microbiome of regeneratively grown fruits.

“Regeneratively grown fruit is healthier for you,” she says.

Bohm says CMI Orchards has set aggressive goals to sequester 2 million tons of carbon by 2030, which she says is a realistic goal as the company is set to sequester 335,000 tons of carbon this year.

Glenn Daniels, Craig Merrill, Kasey Kelley, Fernando Aguilar, Ryan Reilly, Matthew Lyons, Joe Dugo, Jim Roberts, Peter Perez, Andres Vasquez, Andy Bruno and Joe Quiliada are shown at the Naturipe IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show booth. Photo: Christina Herrick

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Naturipe showcased its new Berry Buddies snack bites, which offer 12 grams of protein and feature a yogurt coating over blueberries and peanut butter on the inside. Each pack comes with three bites. Naturipe says these have soft-launched and the probiotics in the yogurt survive better in the stomach tract.

Bella Evans, Auna Lundberg, Katie Harmon and Haylee Favor are shown at Stemilt Growers’ booth, which promoted its sanitation support member, Rafael Teran, as the 2025 Farmworker of the Year winner.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Stemilt showcased 2025 Farmworker of the Year Award winner Rafael Teran , who works in sanitation support for Stemilt, on signage throughout the company’s Global Produce and Floral Show booth.

Rick Mulac, Darryl Bollack, Kristen Holden and Lacey De La Torre at the Mariani Nut Co. booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

It’s the middle of harvest for the growers at Mariani Nut Co., and while almonds might be a little short, walnuts look good. The team says that with the holiday season nearing, the company is excited by the retail programs and education that the California Walnut Commission is doing to help drive sales and highlight the benefits of a diet rich in walnuts.

Don Roper, Craig Arneson, Kristi Harris, Fred Wescott and Ryan Callahan are shown at Honeybear Brands’ 2025 Global Produce and Floral Show booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Honeybear Brands offered tastings of its Honeymoon apple, which has bright yellow skin, firm and dense flesh with a sweet and mellow flavor, as well as the Pazazz apple, which boasts a sweet-tart flavor with a juicy crunch.

Your next read:

Superfresh Growers Adds to Orchard Buddies Package Offerings

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:23:25 GMT

Superfresh Growers says it will expand its Orchard Buddies packaging line, which launched n 2024. The new additions will include 2- and 3-pound organic apple and pear pouch bags as well as a 3-pound organic apple poly bag.

The Yakima, Wash.-based company says this expansion helps retailers build a complete organic apple and pear display.

The new bags feature unique orchard scenes and incorporate furry and feathery friends. The company launched the Orchard Buddies last year to help make organic apples more appealing to children and weave stories about nature and environmental stewardship.

The company says the pouch bags used in Orchard Buddies packaging is made from 100% low-density polyethylene, which are recyclable at locations that accept film recycling.

Superfresh Growers will showcase the new Orchard Buddies at its International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show booth, No. 3269. Superfresh Growers will also offer the second edition of its Orchard Buddies kids’ books, “The Orchard Buddies and the Newest Helper.”

The 2025 Pacer 25 — Tim Harrington

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:53:10 GMT

Editor’s note: The following profile is from the 2025 Packer 25, our annual tribute to 25 leaders, innovators and agents of change across the fresh produce supply chain. ( You can view all honorees here. ) This feature has been edited for length and clarity.

Tim Harrington — Senior merchandising manager, Stemilt Growers

If you’ve ever been to a Stemilt Growers trade show booth, you’ve likely met Tim Harrington, the company’s senior merchandising manager. Harrington has a dynamite personality and the sales know-how to back it up.

Harrington will retire from Stemilt in 2026. He says it’s bittersweet.

“It’s such mixed emotions,” he says. “I’m voluntarily quitting the best job I’ve ever had.”

Harrington got his start in the fresh produce industry with Hannaford Bros. in the produce department before going to college to study marketing, a job he says really helped him in his future roles. He worked part-time while going to school. And after graduation, Harrington worked at Shaw Supermarkets for 23 years, 13 of which as a quality assurance manager. He joined Stemilt in 2009, as a merchandising manager, where he says he could meld his marketing degree with his produce department expertise — and the rest is history.

Harrington credits his success to his wife, Donna, who he says has supported, encouraged and championed him through his 33 years in the fresh produce industry.

What are the biggest challenges facing growers and marketers of pears, apples and cherries?

Maintaining the economics of growing and packing. As with many in the produce industry, we’ve seen the expense of farming and packaging rise significantly over the past 10 years. In my eyes, the retail on apples, pears and cherries has remained basically static. They really haven’t seen any changes in retail over all these years. In some cases, retails have not changed in those 10 years; apples, pears and cherries are still a tremendous value for a family’s grocery cart.

Labor is another challenge facing our industry. I’m so proud to say that Stemilt is on the cutting edge of combating this with the latest and most sophisticated pear, cherry and apple packing lines. With this new technology and equipment, we can maximize production that will offset some of the labor challenges. All of these enhancements and have come at a significant investment, but they are absolutely essential to our business.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities for growth in the pear, apple and cherry categories?

We grow a significant amount of our apples organically. And truthfully, the industry hasn’t grown to its full potential with organic apples, pears and cherries — certainly not to the numbers we’re growing and packing organically. There’s a significant room to have increases with organic apples and pears and cherries far beyond what they’re currently achieving — to maximize organic apple, pear and cherry sales, to increase promotions and awareness. While we have seen organic apple, pears and cherries grow in sales over the past 10 years, there is still double-digit opportunities to capture more of that business.

The organic consumer is the ideal consumer shopping in your store or online. Their basket size, in many cases, is double that of the conventional shopper. Having a well-balanced, competitive organic offering at the store is key. With apples and pears, a premium of anywhere between 30 cents to 50 cents a pound is ideal on most varieties; that narrow spread of retail will maximize sales as well as enticing new customers to the organic category.

Are there specific programs that you’ve been especially proud to help build, market or champion?

One that really stands out is the opportunity to share what I call a look inside the world of apple, pears and cherries at Stemilt. We’ve done that through our unique Stemilt Apple, Pear and Cherry College.

We’ll take anyone from a produce manager to a produce specialist to a produce inspector to a category manager to a director to a VP to an owner. We run it very similarly to Driscoll University.

I’m really proud of the education that we’ve done with these people through these on-site apple, pear and cherry colleges, sharing the knowledge of the behind the scenes, of what it takes to grow beautiful and delicious fruit.

I’m also proud of the many visits to our retail customer locations to bring the orchard to them for on-site educational sessions. We actually go and we’ll do a two-hour educational session with videos, interactive questions. This, too, has allowed many store team members to gain valuable knowledge about where our products come from and the latest and fresh trends of what we see for the future.

Many of the interactive office samplings have allowed teammates to try new and exciting upcoming varieties. I have a niche for going into people’s corporate headquarters to their cafeterias, and in taking a new variety of an apple or cherry or pear and spending the mid-morning through mid-afternoon either giving out a whole piece of fruit or slicing fruit, having hundreds and hundreds of people try it.

Of course, we do that store level as well, but these educational and learning sessions, I think, are invaluable. And I’m very proud of that, proud of us at Stemilt for having apple and cherry colleges. It’s renowned. No one else does it. It’s really unique to us, and we’re super proud of all the people over the last 16 years we’ve had come through.

Who have been the most influential mentors or role models in your journey, and what lessons from them do you carry into your career today?

Al Michoud was my first produce manager that I worked for in the early ’80s. Al taught me the value of a true day’s work. He taught me about the seasonality of fresh produce as well as making sure only the best quality and freshness were present on the counters. He was a stickler for this too. If you didn’t take off the bad stuff in the morning, he was going to get you. He was a stickler for freshness on the counters, making even if the display wasn’t full. What was out there had to be primo, and I’ve carried that through my whole life.

And then I got to the latter part of my career, where I credit Roger Pepperl and Brianna Shales for being highly influential in my latter part of my life. They took a chance on me, they hired me and then they encouraged me to reach my full potential in interacting with our customers through my creative delivery. I don’t even know I got this creative delivery built inside me. All I know is they liked my personality. They liked the way I interacted with our retailers, and they gave me full carte blanche to go off and do whatever it took to really maximize the relationship and the sales potential with those customers.

They both encouraged me to reach my full potential of interacting with our customers through my creative delivery. They were super supportive of my suggestions for my unique ways of reaching customers, whether it be a road show or a town hall event or even a simple lobby sampling. They always boosted my confidence. Whatever I set my mind to, this was a huge boost, allowing to be more confident and achieve success in ways that I only dreamed of.

What advice would you give to young professionals entering the produce business today?

If the opportunity presents itself, work produce in the retail store environment for a year or two. Anybody entering the business, I personally think they should have a year of store produce experience as they grow and continue to become familiar with all of the offerings in the produce department as well as how they are merchandised. This will truly help establish a well-rounded picture of what it’s like to spend a day in the life of produce. You’re going to be exposed to all the different seasons for a couple of years.

As you progress up the ladder in various positions in the industry, you can always reflect back on those basic roots. It also builds great street credibility. I know a lot of kids coming to university, and they just don’t want to do the retail hours. And I get it, but I think it’s a great building block for them to really get their feet on steady ground to understand. A lot of times, people come from university and they may be assigned to buy potatoes or onions or watermelons or cherries. This way, they have the whole department for a couple of years, and they’ve seen how it works.

The category managers and vice presidents — their customers are the stores. The store’s customers are the people who come shop the store.

If you tell someone you worked in the stores, you truly do know what it’s like to be on the front lines with this produce.

I would also like to encourage those young professionals entering our industry to find a mentor who has a significant amount of years in the business. There is much to be gained from the knowledge of a seasoned veteran.

NY Apple Industry’s Peter Ten Eyck Dies at 87

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 19:34:37 GMT

Peter Gansevoort Ten Eyck II of New Scotland, N.Y. and a major player in the state’s apple industry, passed away peacefully at his home on Indian Ladder Farms on Sept. 25, at the age of 87, with his wife, Rose-Marie, by his side.

Peter was born on Aug. 27, 1938, and grew up on Indian Ladder Farms. He spent his youth attending the Albany Academy and working on the farm. He graduated from Cornell University’s School of Agriculture and Life Sciences and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1961, serving until 1963. When he returned home, he worked for his family’s two businesses, the Ten Eyck Insurance Agency and Indian Ladder Farms.

Under Peter’s guidance, with assistance from family members and essential staff, Indian Ladder Farms evolved and changed to what it is today. It went from a primarily wholesale business to a highly diversified direct-to-consumer enterprise that now includes a retail store, apple pick-your-own tours, an innovative cidery and brewery, and agritourism with event venue offerings. He also led the farm in joining a group of EcoCertified apple growers in New England, using ecology-based agricultural practices that promote soil and tree health, nurture pollinators and protect biodiversity. He retired from Indian Ladder Farms in 2023, at the age of 85.

In a statement, New York State Agricultural Commissioner Richard Ball said he joined the state’s agricultural industry in mourning Peter’s loss.

“I was fortunate to know Pete for many years both as a farmer and as a partner as we worked together on policies impacting New York agriculture,” Ball said, outlining Peter’s numerous industry and community involvements .

“In each of these endeavors and many more, Pete set the bar high,” Ball continued. “His extraordinary commitment to New York’s agricultural industry was always evident, whether through his tireless efforts to support and grow the state’s apple industry, his commitment to ensuring that his farm was eco-certified, or his thoughtful balancing of the needs of farm workers and agricultural businesses with his understanding of environmental issues and the health of our pollinators.”

Peter was predeceased by his sister, Gerritje Ten Eyck Henault (and her husband, Armand). He is survived by his wife of 41 years; and his brother, John Ten Eyck (Sally); as well as his three children from his first marriage to Mary Jane Fryer; his six grandchildren; and his two his great-grandchildren.

The Ten Eycks welcomes family, friends and the community to join them in remembering Peter on Oct. 22 at Reilly&Son Funeral Home, 9 Voorheesville Avenue, Voorheesville, NY, from 4 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to be made in Peter’s memory to The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208 or the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, 195 New Karner Rd., Albany, NY 12205.

What Does a Modern Apple Orchard Look Like?

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:44:44 GMT

When you think of an apple orchard, you might think of large trees full of foliage and apples so high up in the tree that you’d need a ladder to reach them. However, today’s modern apple orchards look much different.

Known as high-density system, these trees are much shorter and smaller. Bill Dodd, a fourth-generation apple grower at Hillcrest Orchards in Amherst, Ohio, grows his trees in a slender spindle growing system; he shares with The Packer a little bit about the advantages of growing apples in a high-density system.

“Typically trees are planted 2.5 to 3, maybe 4 feet apart in the row — fully dwarfing rootstocks to control the size of the tree, needs to be supported,” he says. “This is a four-wire system with trellis posts, and then, because of the dwarfing trees don’t have much of a root system water is critical so we have trickle irrigation set up.”

Dodd still has some older plantings on his farm, with about 150 trees per acre, compared to his high-density blocks, which can range anywhere between 1,200 to 2,000 trees per acre. He says trees cost about $10 each, so it is definitely more expensive to grow in a high-density system

“You can do the math on 1,200 trees per acre, or 150 trees per acre,” he says. “It’s pretty expensive to plant the high-density.”

And that’s not only the trees; there’s also the wires and the poles to create the trellis system as well as the drip irrigation.

So, if it’s more expensive, why do growers do it? While it might seem counterintuitive, Dodd says those smaller trees in the higher-density plantings are more productive than the larger ones. There are fewer leaves on the higher-density trees, which means the tree can focus more on growing fruit than growing tall.

“This so very productive compared to the older style, bigger trees, much more efficient, easier to prune, easier to harvest,” he says. “Pretty much everything seems to be easier with them. Also, the fruit has access to way more sunlight, which helps with color.”

Big Washington Apple Crop Presents Retailers With Big Opportunities

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 23:45:08 GMT

It’s “steady as she goes” right now for apple growers, packers and marketers, says Catherine Gipe-Stewart, director of marketing for Yakima, Wash.-based Domex Superfresh Growers. Harvest began in early August and will continue until the end of October or early November with late-season varieties.

This year’s crop looks to be large, apple marketers say, with the industry buoyed by a great growing season.

“It’s an exciting time of year; every day you see crews heading into different orchards to start picking, and you know that variety will soon be available for your customers,” says Kassi Orozco, sales specialist for Grandview, Wash.-based River Valley Fruit. “I always enjoy being able to say, ‘We just harvested variety X and will be packing it by the end of the week.’”

Season Outlook

Early estimates call for around 142 million boxes, which would be a record crop. But a major theme for this season is how growers will work to pick the highest quality of apples, not necessarily everything on the trees.

“From a national crop perspective, the number of fresh apples in production is greater than current demand, which puts pressure on pricing to move through the perishable product in a timely manner,” says Brianna Shales, marketing director for Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers. “Our estimate is that a 125 [million] to 130 million box crop is more accurate with the current demand for Washington apples.”

Gipe-Stewart estimates a 3% to 10% shrink from early crop projections to apples in the U.S. Apple Association’s Dec. 1 storage report due to labor availability, weather and early freezes for later-season varieties.

Orozco says this large crop is a good opportunity for growers and pickers to harvest for quality, not quantity.

“Some growers will need to be selective, focusing on harvesting only the best fruit that will bring the right returns for their orchards,” she says.

Gipe-Stewart says this year’s crop also has the potential to offer retailers many different options, noting there’s large fruit but also small- and medium-sized fruit.

“The biggest takeaway is that we will have a nice range of sizes to support retail and foodservice across the board,” she says.

Orozco says a challenge for marketers is the tug and pull of promotions with a large crop, noting they might worry about falling behind and will push deals to keep product moving.

“With careful planning and collaboration, we see that risk as an opportunity — an opportunity to work together as an industry to move Washington apples efficiently and deliver the best eating experience to consumers across North America and around the world,” she says.

Honeycrisp, which had a down year during the 2024-25 season, is having a rebound year.

(Photo courtesy of Stemilt Growers)

Variety Mix

Making a huge rebound this year is Honeycrisp, which had a down year during the 2024-25 season.

“Industry estimates point to a nearly 40% increase in Honeycrisp volume in 2025, with organic Honeycrisp also making a strong comeback after a challenging season,” says Kaci Komstadius, marketing manager for Wenatchee-based CMI Orchards.

Shales says she also expects granny smith to be up by 20% and fuji and gala to remain relatively flat year-over-year.

Club varieties continue to grow, with Cosmic Crisp making the biggest leaps in production.

“According to Circana data for the four weeks ending Aug. 10, 2025, Cosmic ranked as the No. 3 apple nationally,” Gipe-Stewart says. “Let that sink in: A regionally grown apple from Washington State alone has secured the No. 3 spot during a period when both imports and other domestic apples are on the market.”

Gipe-Stewart says Cosmic Crisp now accounts for 12% of the apple category, behind gala and Honeycrisp.

“Even more impressive, Cosmic has held this position throughout the entire calendar year. This consistency highlights its status as an expected, mainstream variety at retail,” she says.”

Gipe-Stewart says Autumn Glory continues to outperform other proprietary varieties in October and November thanks to its unique flavor profile.

“This season presents a strong opportunity to plan pre-Thanksgiving ads for this fall favorite,” she says. “Autumn Glory aligns perfectly with consumer interest in warm, spiced flavors during the cooler months.”

Komstadius says SugarBee will see a volume increase this year, which will now offer retailers year-round availability. CMI will also offer Envy, EverCrisp, Kiku, Kanzi, Ambrosia Gold and Jazz apples.

“From Envy’s elegant sweetness to Kanzi’s bold tang, these varieties provide unique merchandising opportunities and help retailers create flavor-forward promotions that resonate with shoppers,” she says.

Orozco says River Valley Fruit has been impressed with EverCrisp.

“We remain strong believers in EverCrisp. Retailer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing what we already know: It’s a fantastic apple with a bright future,” she says. “Customer feedback on this variety has been consistently strong, and we look forward to another great season of delivering fruit that tastes as good as it looks.”

Chuck Sinks, president of sales for Elgin, Minn.-based Honeybear Brands, says Pazazz has developed strong customer loyalty in certain markets. Honeybear Brands will also offer Honeymoon, with a larger volume than the 2024-25 season, but growers continue to plant more of the variety.

“The introduction of our newly developed Honeymoon on a very limited scale has demonstrated the desire from retailers to carry a clean, yellow apple that delivers on taste,” he says.

Retailers should expect a good volume of organic apples, says Shales, and it’s important that retailers fine-tune the organic mix and focus growth on varieties in good supply, such as Honeycrisp and Cosmic Crisp.

“Organic apples make up 12% of category volume and 17% of dollars with a retail price premium over conventional,” she says. “They are part of the everyday mix for most retailers, with 62% of the crop sold in bags and 37% in bulk.”

Gipe-Stewart says retailers can expect increased organic Autumn Glory apples.

Komstadius says consumers’ allegiance to the organic produce category should bode well for a larger apple crop this season.

“Organic shoppers are among the most loyal in the produce aisle, often willing to adjust their shopping schedule or visit multiple retailers to find the organic options they prefer,” she says. “This loyalty, paired with expanded availability, creates an opportunity for stronger year-round sales and more impactful promotional activity.”

Club varieties continue to grow, with Cosmic Crisp making a big leap in production, says Catherine Gipe-Stewart, director of marketing for Yakima, Wash.-based Domex Superfresh Growers. Gipe-Stewart says Cosmic Crisp now accounts for 12% of the apple category, behind gala and Honeycrisp.

(Photo courtesy of Domex Superfresh Growers)

Promotions This Season

It goes without saying that a larger crop would provide ample opportunities for retailers to shine a spotlight on apples.

As shoppers often purchase apple varieties based on promotions, Gipe-Stewart suggests retailers use consumers’ behavior to help boost sales.

“Since most consumers shop with ‘apples’ on their list rather than a specific variety in mind, rotating the promoted apple can keep momentum going across the category,” she says. “This strategy not only helps sustain consumer interest but also ensures movement across multiple varieties throughout the season.”

Komstadius says this is a great opportunity for retailers to lean into displays, high-impact secondary placements in high-traffic areas and cross-variety promotions to encourage trial and repeat purchases as well as branded packaging to differentiate in a competitive produce aisle.

“Core strategies include multivariety promotions that drive trial and cross-purchasing, dynamic display bins and point-of-sale materials tailored to individual retailers, and targeted digital campaigns that connect with consumers before they even step into the store,” she says.

Don Roper, vice president of sales and marketing for Honeybear Brands, suggests retailers tap consumers’ growing interest in health by touting the benefits of consuming apples, with high fiber, gut health benefits and what he calls “good mood” foods.

As the holidays near, it’s always good to cross-merchandise apples with other items, he says.

“Shoppers are also inspired by cross-merchandising items like nuts, caramel dips and cheeses, and interactive or digital signage that encourages impulse purchases,” Roper says.

Bagged apple promotions will also be a great opportunity for retailers, Komstadius says.

“The heavier crop set has resulted in slightly smaller fruit this season, which opens the door for expanded bag programs where consumers already value convenience and value-driven options,” she says. “Smaller sizing also creates strong promotional opportunities at retail, helping to drive movement and support category growth.”

Orozco says River Valley Farms took a unique approach to bagged promotions around the holidays.

“Last year, we launched a ‘Reindeer Bag’ just in time for the holidays, encouraging families to leave an apple out for Santa along with the cookies,” she says.

Komstadius says CMI plans multi-variety promotions around SugarBee, Kiku, Kanzi and EverCrisp along core varieties to help expand basket size.

Shales says retailers can see success with the apple category by creating the right mix in store. She suggests tying holiday and seasonal trends to apple categories can help drive sales. And taking advantage of crop opportunities with organics, club varieties, Cosmic Crisp and Honeycrisp will also help capture additional sales.

“The volume return on Honeycrisp should be a welcome sight, but last year proved that consumers are less price-sensitive to Honeycrisp than other apples and movement remain strong without steep price discounts,” she says. “Continuing to focus on Cosmic Crisp as a growing variety can help excel the variety and we’re excited to work with retailers on displays that wow and strategies for success within their apple mix.”

DiSilva Fruit Kicks Off Fall with Organic Apples, Pears

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 21:54:38 GMT

DiSilva Fruit says it is kicking off fall with its organic program, featuring apples and pears in convenient 2-lb. resealable bags. These are perfect for back-to-school lunches, quick snacks and healthy family moments, the company says.

“Apples and pears are timeless family favorites, and we’re excited to spotlight them in our fall organic lineup,” says Nelly Czajkowski of DiSilva Fruit in a Sept. 8 news release. “With Morning Kiss Organic leading our apple program and Bright Bounty debuting with organic pears, we’re offering fresh opportunities for our retail partners to drive sales this season.”

The 2-lb bag program is designed to appeal to today’s busy families while supporting retailer profitability, DiSilva says. With competitive pricing and smaller fruit sizes, it adds that the packs are ideal for households looking for fresh, organic produce in an easy-to-grab format. The line also integrates into existing Northeast apple programs, allowing retailers to showcase premium organic fruit alongside conventional displays. The 2-lb. bags join bulk full and half carton options for DiSilva’s fall lineup.

The Morning Kiss-brand organic apples are available in Gala, Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Cosmic Crisp in 2-lb. bags. With Washington expecting record apple volume this season, the company says its organics program offers excellent promotional opportunities across both categories.

Organic pears will debut under DiSilva Fruit’s Bright Bounty brand. The company says organic pear volume is up exponentially over last year, offering retailers expanded promotional opportunities and consumers greater access to this nutritious and flavorful fruit. Pears are rich in fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants, aligning with consumer demand for organic options that support health and sustainability.

Stemilt Offers Merchandising Tips to Kick Off Apple Season

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 20:34:17 GMT

Stemilt Growers says it’s going to be a good year for Rave apples, with a 40% increase in volume over last year.

Rave is also one of the first apples of the season hitting stores, and Brianna Shales, marketing director for the Wenatchee, Wash.-based grower, packer and distributor of pears, apples and stone fruit, offers tips to help retailers to jump-start the apple category.

Shales says Rave provides an opportunity to drive momentum ahead of those resets. Offering a bright fuchsia color and refreshing zing, Rave helps retailers signal the start of apple season to shoppers with early-season promotions offering something new and exciting to try, she says.

“Rave apples are the ultimate season starter,” Shales says. “They bring vibrant color, crisp juiciness and bold flavor to produce departments weeks before other varieties. With volume up and quality exceptional as we’re wrapping up harvest, this is the year for retailers to lean in on Rave.”

Shales says retailers can maximize the early-season apple opportunity with simple, impactful tactics such as:

School lunch and snacking tie-ins — Shales recommends positioning Rave as a staple school snack, using its messaging to help shoppers “rave” about what’s in their lunchbox.
Eye-catching displays — Build large, vibrant displays using bright pink Rave boxes, signage and POS to draw attention.
Highlight freshness — Promote Rave as the first fresh-off-the-tree apple of the season, reminding consumers of apples because they aren’t always top of mind in summer.
Snack pairings — Cross-merchandise bagged Rave apples with kid-friendly items like grapes, citrus or cheese sticks to inspire easy lunch and snack ideas.

“Retailers who feature Rave this season will not only delight shoppers but also set the stage for strong apple category performance as fall varieties roll in,” Shales says. “There are great opportunities on bagged Rave apple promotions to help drive volume with shoppers seeking convenience.”

Stemilt offers Rave in 2- and 4-pound pouch bags, poly bags and its sustainable EZ Band pack for larger fruit. Shales says retailers can use the fruit’s signature pink boxes for high-impact, stackable displays.

“Rave is available from August through October, with a juicy, tangy-sweet flavor profile that pairs perfectly with fall favorites like caramel, cheese and cider, giving consumers a versatile snacking apple,” she says.

Ideal summer growing conditions have helped Rave apples have come off the tree with outstanding color, size and flavor balance this year, according to Stemilt.

“Rave is grown in three staple regions of the U.S. to help retailers promote local and high-flavor fruit simultaneously,” Shales explains. “Stemilt, Applewood Fresh, and Yes! Apples work together to create Rave-worthy experiences at the point of sale to take advantage of these standout seasonal apples.”