With roots in the apple business since 1919, Yes! Apples is a network of more than 50 New York-based family farms that grow and sell 20-plus high-quality apple varieties. Since 1997, Yes! Apples has been led by Kaari Stannard, the only female to own and operate an apple organization in the industry.

New York Apple Sales is the liaison between the grower network and retail partners, serving as the sales and marketing teams and providing support and guidance in food safety, quality control, sustainability and logistics. Sales and marketing keep the group apprised of consumer behavior and preferences, annual food trends, pricing trends and feedback from retail partners to ensure that, as a group, it is providing the best fruit and service to its retailers and customers.

“We have the pleasure of working with multi-generational farms across the nine growing regions of New York,” said Tenley Fitzgerald, vice president of marketing. “Our grower parents are experts in their field, and we learn from them daily. Our owner and CEO, Kaari, is also a grower partner, as she is part-owner of Fish Creek Orchards. Kaari is also a part-owner in two of our packing facilities. So, while most of our business is in collaboration with other growers and entities, we do have a large portion of the business that is vertically integrated.”

In 2020, Fitzgerald noted that New York Apple Sales launched Yes! Apples, a consumer-facing brand that aims to connect directly with consumers through marketing channels like social media, PR, shopper marketing, events and digital. “Yes! Apples is committed to providing great-tasting, in-season apples that deliver on craveable flavor and crisp texture, while ensuring each farm in their network practices the sustainable use of land and resources,” she added. “Yes! Apples varietals include apples consumers know and love like Fuji and Honeycrisp, newcomers like SweeTango and EverCrisp, and New York exclusives like SnapDragon.

Yes! Apples has been a 1 percent for the Planet member since inception, and group currently supports two organizations through its membership:

●  Giving Grove: The Giving Grove supports neighborhood volunteers in planting and caring for fruit trees, nut trees, and berry brambles that improve the urban environment, increase tree canopy and provide a sustainable source of free, organically grown food for neighborhoods facing high rates of food insecurity.

●  City Growers: City Growers is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization based in New York City. Rooted in experiential learning theory, its programs use urban agriculture to close fundamental gaps in the experiences of city kids: exploration of the natural world and understanding of where food comes from.

“We work with 50-plus grower partners, many of them multi-generational farms, across the nine growing regions of New York,” Fitzgerald said. “Many of our partners are not large enough to support the volumes necessary for our retail partners, so we pull their harvests together and provide business opportunities that would not otherwise be possible.

“We work with retailers to continue promoting and keeping apples top of mind,” Fitzgerald continued. “Since most fruits and vegetables no longer have seasonality on their side, we have to be creative in our communication and marketing to keep our products top of mind all year long. Even though the winter tends to transition its focus to citrus, apples are still a delicious, nutritious, and viable fruit option. We work with retailers and across our marketing channels to keep apples front and center.”

The group grows and sell 20-plus varieties of apples with varying harvest windows. Between California, late-season apples, and its import program, it can supply retailers with high-quality apples year-round. Some of the favorite late-season apples include SnapDragon, EverCrisp, Pink Lady and Ambrosia.

Fitzgerald noted that the future looks good too. “We have a promising crop outlook for the next several years,” she said. “We are always testing new varieties and have shared some of these apples with our loyal customers to get their opinions. This fall, we partnered with AVEC Drinks to launch an apple sparkling beverage — Fuji Apple & Cardamom — crafted from Yes! Apples’ locally sourced Fuji apples, grown by dedicated farmers within their network, plus AVEC’s masterful blend of spices and herbs.”