Latest News From Apples

U.S. fresh apple holdings on Feb. 1 totaled 71.9 million (42-pound) cartons, 7.3% less than the same time a year ago.

VentureFruit, a T&G Global company, has unveiled what it says is the world’s first specifically bred hot climate-tolerant apple variety.

The U.S. Apple Association fellowship program focuses on providing professional and leadership development, one-on-one mentoring, hands-on advocacy and community engagement in the apple industry.

The company says that Ambrosia sales increased nearly 300% from the previous year, which was the highest percent change of any apple in the top 10, citing Nielsen 13-week scan data ending Dec. 31, 2022.

The Leamington, Ontario-based company has increased its owned acreage with a 40-acre expansion that will bring organic tomatoes and cucumbers to market in early spring, increasing growing area at the facility to 115 acres.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers LLC launched a new sustainable package called the EZ Band last fall, and it recently launched an organic Cosmic Crisp version, said Brianna Shales, marketing director.

Yakima, Wash.-based Superfresh Growers is entering its second year of growing and selling Evercrisp apples, said Catherine Gipe-Stewart, director of marketing.

The experienced attorney has joined the northwest fruit grower-shipper in a newly created role.

Multi-variety ads can boost the momentum of bulk Pink Lady apple promotions around Valentine’s Day, says Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers, Wenatchee, Wash.

The Wenatchee, Wash.-based company is expanding the year-round availability of its high-flavor organic apple varieties, and that investment is paying off, company officials say.

Apple King is touting success with TrueAI optical grading technology that can detect defects that had previously gone unnoticed.

A shorter crop of apples in Washington has led to declines in exports at the start of the 2022-23 season.

Emerging branded apple varieties should keep the excitement level high in retail produce departments despite lower overall volume from Washington state, say officials with CMI, Wenatchee, Wash.

A partnership with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills team has raised awareness of SnapDragon apples in Eastern markets, says Jessica Wells, executive director of Crunch Time Apple Growers, Lockport, N.Y.

A challenging apple marketing season has meant more focus on assuring supplies and preventing gaps in fresh apple availability in 2023, says Don Roper, vice president of sales and marketing for Honeybear Marketing LLC.

A shorter crop of Washington apples and higher costs for growers this year has caused elevated pricing and new ways to move the crop.

The Belding, Mich.-based company is promoting higher-end, high-flavor varieties like SweeTango, Smitten, and Honeycrisp, says Casey Jarrard, vice president of sales.

The larger crop of Michigan apples should move out to strong demand this season, says Ken Korson, apple category manager for North Bay Produce, Traverse City, Mich.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers is enjoying growth in its proprietary varieties as more trees come into production, said Dan Davis, director of business development.

Fresh apple holdings on Jan. 1 totaled 84.2 million bushels, 4.1% less than the inventories reported last January, according to statistics from the U.S. Apple Association.

The miniature apple for on-the-go-snacking will be featured on Sky’s social media channels, including Instagram and TikTok, throughout 2023.

Despite the leaner crop of apples in Washington, Envy and Jazz variety apples should be good for promotion in the next few months, says Roger Aguirre, director of apples and pears for Oppy.

The ability to promote up-and-coming varieties like Cosmic Crisp is one reason that Brianna Shales is optimistic about the 2022-23 season.

Michigan’s apple crop enjoyed a great growing season that has resulted in better volume and a larger size profile for many varieties, said Trish Taylor, marketing manager for Riveridge Produce.

The group is launching a series of Snack Responsibly-themed ads through social media platforms.

The average price per count carton for all U.S. conventional apples was up 16% from the same time last year and up 22% from the same time two years ago.

Is inflation creating changes in consumer behavior toward apple purchases?

In a year when many Washington apple varieties saw reduced output, the Cosmic Crisp apple has given buyers bigger volume and promising potential, marketers say.

Communicating with truck drivers, treating them well when they arrive at Chelan Fresh facilities and getting them loaded quickly are some ways the company is helping drivers, says Mac Riggan, director of marketing.

Sales on SnapDragon this year were up 70% by Oct. 31 compared to last year, says owner and operator Alisha Albinder Camac.

The combination of the shorter crop nationwide and Michigan’s large crop provides the state's growers with many opportunities, said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee.

Desmond O'Rourke has penned a 277-page memoir.

The Washington apple crop is surprisingly short this year, but Chuck Sinks says retailers still have solid promotional opportunities.

Pacificpro Sales LLC has partnered with Glacier Peak Cold Storage to provide packaged fruit options.

Pink Lady apples are in healthy supply as Valentine's Day approaches, and it is also time for retailers to start planning granny smith ads for St. Patrick’s Day, says Catherine Gipe-Stewart, director of marketing.

Multiple growing regions in North America have strengthened the availability of the crunchy, flavorful apple variety this winter, despite crop shortages in Washington.

Arable partnered with Alpine Pacific Capital to acquire Fresh Innovations in March 2018 and the assets of Farmington Fresh in June 2018.

The storage report captures more than 95% of the national storage capacity, according to the U.S. Apple Association.

Discovered in Europe in 1999, the bright yellow apples are a cross between a golden delicious apple and a topaz apple.

From branded varieties to standard varieties, organic apples have a robust and growing presence in the produce department. 

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2023 survey polled more than 1,000 consumers in mid-October, discovering differences in how consumers report purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fruit variety developer and licensing company Sun World has added 10 new licensed marketers from South America to its portfolio.

Envy apples says it will kick off the 2022 holiday season with momentum, thanks to a marketing campaign designed to drive consumer trials, stimulate repeat purchases and inspire expanded usage occasions. 

U.S. apple industry leaders have been seeking access to the Australian apple market for more than 20 years.

Nearly 25% of Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers' apple crop is grown and certified organic for the 2022 crop, says Brianna Shales, marketing director.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based CMI Orchards is steadily growing in organic apples, pears and cherries, said Joel Hewitt, organic sales manager.

Regal Fruit International is coordinating the sale of its proprietary SugarBee brand apples in partnership with Chelan Fresh, CMI Orchards and Sage Fruit.

Castleton, N.Y.-based Windy Hill Orchard has found the solution it needed for fruit preservation with Chicago-based Hazel Technologies.

Despite a tight apple crop in 2022, there’s room to keep growing Stemilt’s Artisan Organics brand, says Stemilt Marketing Director Brianna Shales.  

Stemilt’s Lil Snappers line of small apples and pears offers parents a convenient, healthy fruit option for their kids, says the Wenatchee, Wash.-based company.