There has been a lot of activity in the realm of updates and improvements at Fowler Farms in recent times. Lee Peters, vice president of sales and marketing for the Wolcott, NY, firm shared a list of some of the major projects at the facility.

“We have completed renovated our engine rooms and controls that operate all of our storage capabilities,” said Peters. “This was a two-year project that we’re pleased to report is now completed and in operation.”

The company also constructed a new equipment storage building. Peters said this is was an important project because it means that the company can get all of its equipment inside when the outdoor weather elements are severe.

The company has also been busy planning new acres of the recently released New York managed varieties, SnapDragon and RubyFrost. In August 2013, Cornell announced the two new varieties developed in partnership with the New York Apple Growers. The apples underwent a year of rigorous consumer testing under the names NY1 and NY2 prior to their commercial launch.

“But we’re also strongly behind the Honeycrisp,” said Peters. “The demand grows steadily and we continue to add acreage. It’s interesting to note that the Zestar and Honeycrisp are parents to the ‘SweeTango,’ a managed variety brand. All were all developed at the University of Minnesota.”

“Fowler Farms is a member of the ‘SweeTango’ Cooperative, and it is the Eastern sales desk for the organization. Peters’ feelings about managed apples is that they are the wave of the future.

“The crystal ball is not as clear as we would like on these new managed varieties, but the future bodes well for managed marketing. The traditional unmanaged apples quickly become commodity items after they’re introduced. But managed varieties have a tremendous amount of marketing and promotional money behind them that gives them strong marketing and promotional opportunities. We have approximately over half a million dollars in marketing money available for the ‘SweeTango’ annually — and that kind of money really helps to get the word out to consumers.”

Other great news on the Fowler Farms front is that it has partnered with the Produce Marketing Association and “Sesame Street” in its eat brighter! campaign.

In October 2013, during a White House event with first lady Michelle Obama, honorary chair for Partnership for a Healthier America, Sesame Workshop and the PMA announced the formation of this unique and powerful collaboration committed to increasing children’s consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. It is part of a commitment to the partnership, which works with the private sector and Obama to broker commitments to help end the childhood obesity epidemic.

The two-year commitment enables PMA’s community of suppliers like Fowler Farms and retailers to take advantage of the strength and influence of the “Sesame Street” brand and characters like “Big Bird,” “Elmo,” “Cookie Monster” and “Abby Cadabby” to help deliver messages about fresh fruits and vegetables.Fowler Farms continues to increase its apple acreage every year, and it also continually expands its distribution range.

“You’ll find our apples and cider in every state east of the Rockies and some years in Canada,” said Peters. “In addition to our managed variety brands, our ‘Fowler Farms’ brand continues to be recognized to signify high-quality fruit.”