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during the traditional cranberry season, the retailers can merchandise the fruit in multiple areas of the store.
Mastromauro says cranberry sales still are best during the holiday season. “We run advertising in the stores’ iers a couple of weeks before anksgiving and obviously, the week of anksgiving,” he says.
He says Sunset Foods extends holiday sales by carrying cranberries after Christmas and moving them into the frozen depart-
ment during the o season.
Amanda Coleman, produce buyer for
People’s Food Co-op in Portland, OR, says the store carries bulk loose cranberries, which she tries to buy locally. Cranberries typically sell for around $5.99 per pound in the store and on sale for $3.99 to $4.99 per pound, she says.
“We feature cranberries in polypropylene baskets on wet racks that we keep refriger- ated,” says Coleman. pb
Patience Fruit & Company has a dried cranberry bag that plays well as a cross-promotional item in produce, while Fresh Gourmet has launched a new topping line (right) that features a dried cranberry and seed blend.
CA, says the company helps sell cranber- ries by positioning as a salad topping in the produce department. ey are available as a stand-alone topping, and also blended with other ingredients such as walnuts, almonds, pepitas and ax seeds.
“Dried cranberries are sweet, tart and chewy — so you get a lot of avor and texture out of just one ingredient,” she says. “ ey are a delicious balance to bitter greens and creamy cheeses, while also holding up great in heartier grain salads. Dried cranber- ries also are a delicious addition to yogurt, cereal and baked goods.”
Fresh Gourmet recently launched a new group of non-GMO project veri ed toppings, including a dried cranberry and seed blend. e topping includes dried sweet- ened cranberries, toasted pepitas, sun ower and ax seeds.
Jackie Grazier, marketing director for Sun-Maid Growers of California, Kingsburg, CA, says Sun-Maid dried cranberries can be added to many baked goods, such as quick breads, cakes, cookies, pies and scones. ey also go well with salads, casseroles and wraps. “We have a great number of delicious recipes on our website,” she says.
ADDITIONAL RETAIL NOTES
Vince Mastromauro, produce director for Sunset Foods, Highland Park, IL, says
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