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apples merchandising review How Bout Them Apples!
After more than half century, the Gala has supplanted the Red Delicious as the top-selling apple and is poised to become America’s No. 1 grown apple.
A steady push by growers to launch new varieties, fueled by consistent popularity, means retailers can easily display the fruit year-round.
BY JOYCE REINGOLD
The Gala is rising. After more than 50 years as the top U.S.-grown apple, the Red Delicious, still a favorite, is expected to claim second place. Apples with relatively newer names, Envy, Cheekie, SugarBee and Smitten – a handful of the more than 100 varieties sold at retail – will vie for space on shelves and in shopping carts this season. Innovators have their eyes on the next big apple, and innova- tions in dynamic control atmosphere storage are keeping apples fresh for consumers long after harvest.
Add to the buzz a USDA crop esti- mate of 272.7 million units – nudging past 2017’s 271.6 million units and record-setting farm gate value of $3.55 billion – and what better time than now to reap the bene ts of merchandising apples year-round.
sales in the produce department,” says Roger Pepperl, marketing director for Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, WA. “ at’s huge. It’s not just important to us; it’s important to the retailer that they take care of this large segment of sales.”
“ ere’s a core group of customers that buys apples every week,” says Andy Tudor, vice president of business development for Rainier Fruit Co. in Selah, WA. “We don’t gap our supply in the summer anymore. We’ve learned how to store them for a full season.”
Given the advances in dynamic control atmosphere storage, with a boost from late- season varieties such as RubyFrost, “We’re
able to go a lot longer with crunchy, crispy fruit,” says Austin Fowler, owner of Fowler Farms near Lake Ontario, NY.
“ e seasons are blurred, so it’s our job to keep consumers and retailers interested and engaged,” says Nick Mascari, vice president of sales for grower/packer/shipper All Fresh GPS in Sparta, MI.
With the 2018 apple year still fresh, industry experts shared their thoughts on some of the top ways to get the most from merchandising apples year-round.
For starters, George Harter, vice pres- ident of marketing for CMI Orchards in Wenatchee, urges retailers “to think outside the box.”
“Apples make up 6-8 percent of dollar
PHOTO COURTESY OF CMI
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