Yes! Apples sees plenty of opportunity this winter

In 2019, New York Apple Sales launched Yes! Apples, a consumer-friendly apple brand rooted in quality.

“Our focus is good stewardship of our land and resources and excellent service to our grower and retail partners,” said Kaari Stannard, CEO of the Glenmont, NY-based company. “A team attitude across all functions — harvest, packing, sales marketing, and logistics — has been even more important this year as we move quickly, pivot thoughtfully, and adjust to the changing landscape and safety precautions in the wake of the pandemic. Creativity and resilience in an ever-changing industry and environment has sustained us over time, and will move our business into its next phase of life.”

Yes! Apples maintains a steady supply of apples throughout the year, and winter apples are a large part of that mix.

“Consumers no longer have to eat seasonally, they can eat oranges in July and strawberries in December, and apples need to keep a stronghold on apples’ place within the fruit category beyond our traditionally associated season of fall,” said Tenley Fitzgerald, vice president of marketing for the company. “Our grower partners are growing more and more late-season varieties that give consumers a great selection in the winter months.”

One of Yes! Apples’ featured late-season varieties is the RubyFrost, which started shipping in December, and are described as “the perfect balance of sweet and tart,” and whose hearty crunch and crisp texture add a unique twist to the classic Northeast flavor profile.

KORU apples start shipping in October, but the supply runs through the early summer and are very popular throughout the winter.

“These are a game changer for charcuterie boards and sliced apple snacks, as they are crisp, crunchy, sweet and juicy,” Fitzgerald said. “The best part? They’re slow to brown, meaning you can slice up and leave out without a worry.”

Yes! Apples experienced a great crop of SnapDragon this year and will continue to promote throughout the upcoming winter months. EverCrisp apples started delivering in late November and the company is working with influencers to promote them.

Then of course, there’s the Honeycrisp, a fan favorite all year-round, which the company calls the “Apple Next Door.”

“We have had a strong apple crop this season, especially after the trying spring across the East Coast,” Stannard said. “We continue to expect our volumes on core varieties, such as Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji to increase, while we also launch and continue to expand our club varieties such as SweeTango, KORU, SnapDragon, RubyFrost and Evercrisp.”

The sustainable efforts that the company’s growers have implemented has led to higher yields than ever before, and in turn, Yes! Apples’ volume is increasing exponentially year-over-year.

“Our growers can also bring a crop into production faster than they used to with the support of new technology and better-growing practices,” Fitzgerald said. “We are excited to continue working with brands, influencers, and retailers to promote apples. We have had so many wins for our new brand in the past six months, and we can’t wait to build upon these efforts in 2021.”