There are so many reasons for parents to feel good about including Michigan apples in their children’s back-to-school meal and snack routines, according to Michigan Apples’ Official Dietitian, Shari Steinbach, MS, RDN.

Crunch Time Apple Growers, a cooperative of more than 150 growers throughout New York state who are united with one mission: to introduce new, flavorful apple varieties to the marketplace, is seeing continued success with its SnapDragon and RubyFrost varieties.

With September right around the corner, retailers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are gearing up to provide customers with delicious fresh apples from growers in Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Each year, shoppers eagerly await the arrival of popular varieties, such as the Honeycrisp, Gala, Ginger Gold and Paula Red.

Applewood Fresh Growers LLC is a fourth-generation grower, packer, shipper and marketer whose roots go back to 1935. The company is owned by the Swindeman family, who also own Applewood orchards—a grower and packer of apples located in southeast Michigan.

“Apples are the main produce item we sell, accounting for 95 percent of what we do, but we also sell some Michigan asparagus,” said Brian J Coates, vice president of sales and business development for the Sparta, MI-based company.

BelleHarvest has been involved in the apple industry for more than 50 years and is one of the largest apple shippers/packers in the state of Michigan. The company was established back in 1957, therefore its roots within the apple industry are deep and its reputation is strong.

In a typical year, the company packs around 1.6 million boxes of apples.

Riveridge Produce Marketing is a vertically integrated apple grower, packer, shipper and marketer of apples.

“We market fresh apples on behalf of many multi-generational growers primarily in Michigan,” said Trish Taylor, marketing manager for the Sparta, MI-based company. “Additionally, we are cider makers; Riveridge Cider Co. presses fresh cider year-round at our facility in Michigan.”