While summer stone fruit takes up grocery store shelves, Stemilt is gearing up for this year’s Rave apple season and encouraging retailers to do the same. Stemilt’s Brianna Shales said Rave apples will be a jumpstart to the apple category and will provide a special limited-time opportunity to boost apple dollars through volume.

The Cosmic Crisp apple gained retail momentum this spring and made waves after appearing on the first season finale of "NCIS: Hawai’i." Stemilt’s review of April 2022 Nielsen retail scan data revealed that Cosmic Crisp was the seventh apple nationally at 2.2 percent of apple volumes and 2.3 percent of apple dollars.

Stater Bros. Markets recently donated 20,000 pounds of fresh apples to Feeding America Riverside I San Bernardino (FARSB) as part of the Take a Bite Out of Hunger program sponsored by FirstFruits Marketing of Washington. The donation ensures that local food banks will be well-equipped to provide nutritious fresh fruit to the underserved in the local community.

Yes! Apples, a fresh, consumer-first apple brand, approaches marketing a bit differently than many in the produce business.

Not all consumers shop the same way. Some may be perusing grocery store shelves, while others may be shopping online. Yet others discover new finds via social media.

Nathaniel Foster joined the New York Apple Association as account and event manager.  He brings 20 years of experience in the grocery industry in retail purchasing and store operations, customer service, and sales and account management.

Foster has more than 15 years of experience managing grocery and produce departments and store operations for several independent natural food grocers, with extensive experience in product sourcing and inventory purchasing and replenishment. 

On Saturday, May 7, Stemilt Growers celebrated the 2022 Apple Blossom Festival Stemilt Grand Parade. Fourth-generation cherry grower Kyle Mathison was decked out in his signature overalls on a 1926 Ford Model-T and Stemilt President West Mathison was at the wheel of the classic Stemilt Volkswagen Ladybug.

The Apple Blossom Festival is a beloved spring event celebrated by many Washingtonians and the Wenatchee Valley community.