Consumers like Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers’ apple-pear combos
Consumers like Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers’ apple-pear combos
Consumers continue to enjoy simultaneous purchase of two of their favorite fruits — apples and pears — during the holidays. Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers’ U-Pick the Flavors program is the ultimate retail mix-and-match marketing tool. “The idea is that you can mix different varieties to get the different flavors you want,” said national marketing representative Dan Wohlford.
The company is headquartered in in Wenatchee, WA, and was Washington’s first exporter of apples. Today, the company offers its domestic and international customers a wide array of quality apples, pears, cherries, stone fruits, table grapes, citrus and other commodities.
“The U-Pick program has been a real winner for us,” Wohlford stated. “Retailers like the flexibility of the tote bins and tote bags to merchandise apples and pears. The eye catching graphics do the job.”
Consumers can enjoy the ultimate flexibility in picking and choosing the apples and flavors they crave through Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers’ U-Pick the Flavors retail program. Conditions this season were conducive to production, and Oneonta saw larger sizing for both apples and pears. “Quality looks fantastic for apples this season,” Wohlford said. “The Galas have great color, and the Red Delicious are shaping up to have a classic year as far as color and type. Fujis really benefitted from the cool nights this fall and colored up very well, too.” Honeycrisp, a hot-demand item among consumers, are also showing brisk sales throughout the country.
“I think the biggest surprise came to us with how big the pears are both in size and in quantity,” he said. “We have a lot of pears to move this year, and they are big in size — particularly the Anjou. The promotable sizes will defiantly be in the 60- to 70-count sizes for Anjou this year.” Bartlett, Comice and Bosc are also showing good sales.
With a wide range of sizes for both apples and pears available, Wohlford said retailers will be able to find the size profile that sells for them.
“Consumers are flocking to the bins as well,” he said. “They get the idea that apples and pears are very kid-friendly. The size of fruit that retailers put in the tote bags is right sized for kids. They love the convenience of picking different varieties and getting the favors that everyone in the family enjoys.”
Larger fruit, especially pears, will be promoted during the holidays. “The large size fruit is a traditional treat in Christmas stockings and for those special desserts with family,” Wohlford noted.
