Stemilt Growers hits the road on the Great American Rave Race
Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, WA, kicks off apple harvest with a 21-stop cross-country trek to promote early season club varietal Rave apples. The Produce News caught up with Brianna Shales, marketing director at Stemilt, on the road on the first leg of Stemilt’s Great American Rave Race. Shales said, “Rave comes and goes in a flash –– it is a limited time offering, so get it while you can!”
While this year’s apple crop looks to be slightly under last year’s totals, Shales said “Stemilt will have year-round supply and plenty of opportunities for promotion.” She added, “as regional supplies from Michigan and New York wrap up, it’s really important for retailers to utilize Washington apples.”
Aside from Rave, Shales expects the industry to see a significant increase with Cosmic Crisp, both conventionally and organically –– Stemilt’s organic Cosmic Crisp will see a noticeable bump this third year, as more organic acreage has been certified. Shales also highlighted club varietal Sweet Tango, where she expects a 60 percent increase in volume.
Checking back in on the Great American Rave Race, Shales said, “There’s nothing better than introducing a new apple to someone first-hand!”
Stemilt launched the EZ Band sustainable pack for Rave apples this fall offering consumers a convenient grab-and-go option for bulk apples from an environmental standpoint.
Rave apples are a natural cross between a MonArk and Honeycrisp apple. They have the crisp bite and juiciness of a Honeycrisp and a balanced sweet-to-tart ratio from the MonArk.
Rave is available for a limited time each year from August through September.
Kyle Eberth
About Kyle Eberth | 
Kyle Eberth is new to the produce industry, but has grown up around it, in proclaimed "Apple Capitol of the World," Wenatchee, WA. For the past 14-years he has worked in the non-profit sector with an emphasis on brand storytelling, community engagement, and donor relationships.
Kyle graduated from Whitworth University (Spokane, WA) in 2007. He and wife Kelsey were married shortly thereafter, when they moved to Wenatchee to launch their careers. Kyle is "Dad" to Brooklyn and Hudson, together the Eberths enjoy skiing, biking, their family and friends, and playing together in the beautiful place they get to live.
