Jack Brown enjoying Michigan apple season
Jack Brown enjoying Michigan apple season
Jack Brown Produce Inc. has had wonderful movement for its apple crop this year. Movement is especially positive “in light of the overall national crop, which was anticipated to be a tad bit more difficult," said John Schaefer Jr., president of Jack Brown Produce Inc. in Sparta, MI. "But our numbers are above last year.”
It’s really good news that fresh sales numbers are up for Jack Brown despite being “down a little overall” in total apple volume for 2014 in comparison to the 2013 crop.
John Schaefer Jr. in the Sparta, MI, packinghouse of Jack Brown Produce Inc. But quality in 2014 was so good “that our pack-outs are higher — above last year,” Schaefer said before noting that f.o.b. prices “are comparable to a tad bit lighter than last year.”
Schaefer said the market for Honeycrisp endured “a little squishiness” in late September and early October, “but that worked itself out. The movement (of Honeycrisp) has been fantastic since,” he continued. “Honeycrisp is going strong. Every year we increase the volume there and we wonder when the shoe may drop.” So far, “it’s not hit yet” for supply to meet demand.
The Honeycrisp apple quality is “premium ... absolutely excellent,” and the prices “are ours to mess up,” he added. “The variety awareness in the consumer marketplace brings a pull through that is really nice.”
Jack Brown will be shipping storage apples until late June or early July 2015, “which is about normal for us,” Schaefer added.
The company also added new sales and logistics personnel to its team this year: Tom Labbe, domestic sales; Maria Rivera, export sales; and Scott Banhouten, logistics director.