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PHOTO COURTESY OF GREEN GIANT FRESH
Retailers can capitalize on the fall temperatures by promoting and displaying Green Giant Fresh’s line of signature Meal Bowls that come in six varieties.
cranberry promotions,” says Hogan says. Hogan also recommends demonstrating
cranberries to encourage impulse purchases. “Providing shoppers with reasons and ways to enjoy cranberries — especially new and trendy recipes, like cranberry salsa or chili — inspire cranberry purchases,” she says. A couple of in-store cranberry recipe ideas are “bloody” cranberry salsa for Halloween and
cranberry chicken salad on flatbread.
Carter of Okanagan Specialty Fruits says the company’s Arctic apples and ApBitz dried apples are extremely versatile and would complement many other products in fall displays. Retailers need to remember to highlight convenience in fall promotions, says
“Products that hold up well and are ripe for fall promotions include root crops like radishes, onions, leeks, beets and kohlrabi. When the temperature outside cools off, collard and mustard greens and kale sell well in September and October, as well”
— Loren Buurma, Buurma Farms
Carter, as every parent is looking for ease in back-to-school lunches. Okanagan offers 10-ounce grab-and-go bags, which feature kid-friendly, nonbrowning Arctic apples.
Carter suggests mixing up the Halloween theme by having a retail display including apples to “carve” into ghoulish characters in October.
Following the Halloween theme, Young- quist of Bay Baby Produce says the company’s retail clients have increased sales of pumpkins by cross promoting with pre-painted pump- kins, pumpkin paint kits, unique pumpkin varieties and hard winter squash.
Bay Baby pumpkin painting kits sell best, she says, when department staff creates a few hand-crafted examples; they also sell well during a pumpkin painting event offered as a store promotion.
“Online crafting and home decorating sites offer a plethora of ideas as well,” she says. “One cute idea is painting pumpkins
such as Green Giant Fresh’s vegan meal bowls, which come in six unique flavors — Buddha, burrito, fried rice, pad thai, ramen and rancheros.
“As the days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting chillier, these are conve- nient, versatile and nutritious meals to grab and go for lunches, or to easily add a favorite protein to and turn a microwavable veggie bowl into a nutritious complete meal that the entire family can enjoy,” says Lori Bigras, director of marketing and communications for Growers Express, which markets the Green Giant Fresh brand.
FALL PROMOTIONS
Haskins of the New York Apple Association says apples can stand alone in terms of flavor.
“But pairing them with Cheddar cheese or a decadent caramel dip is always a hit,” she says. “Apples are versatile, which means they’re fabulous in salads, on sandwiches, in smoothies and of course in pies.”
Apples are known for their color and flavor, says Haskins. “So, when it comes to capturing consumer attention during the back-to-school season, the trick is in big, colorful displays,” she says.
The New York Apple Association is teaming with public schools across the state to raise awareness of New York Apples and is partnering with The Farm On! Foundation and the New York State Department of Agri- culture and Markets on the “The Big Apple Crunch” set for Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.
“Last year, 2.3 million people participated in the event and more are expected this year,” says Haskins.
The Cranberry Marketing Committee’s Hogan says fresh cranberries’ in-store foot-
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print has expanded into floral departments. “Beyond food, fresh cranberries are a decorative secret weapon,” she says. “With their bright-hued reds and pearl-like shape, cranberries enhance tablescapes, brighten floral and candle arrangements, and bejewel
wreaths and garlands.”
The Cranberry Marketing Committee
offers a separate retail section on its website (uscranberries.com) that provides a one-stop access to cranberry messages, recipes and resources to help drive sales year-round in their stores.
“From success stories to a complete down- loadable in-store sampling toolkit, the CMC has valuable tools to help retailers build their
The Cranberry Marketing Committee provides several resources for retailers to pull on its website, including recipes that highlight the fruit’s taste and benefits.