The New Zealand apple and pear season is approaching harvest, and growers have good reasons to be positive and optimistic, according to Vanguard International.

Experience shows that Mother Nature always has the final say even against the bast laid out agriculture business plans. Last fall’s apple season was directly impacted by devasting weather incidents regionally and in the Pacific Northwest. This was coupled by economic challenges with supply chain issues, scarcities in packing material, daunting labor shortages in every aspect of operations, and a transportation market that defied any normalcy with either pricing or availability.

EverCrisp, a cross between Honeycrisp and Fuji, is a late-season apple that stores well and is long-lasting, boasting even better quality coming out of storage. The variety shares the sweet and crisp qualities of its parent varieties and can last for weeks without refrigeration.

This sweet, juicy and firm apple has been an instant hit among apple lovers. It can be found in major grocery stores across the Midwest as well is the eastern and southern parts of the U.S.

Applewood Fresh’s Michigan apple harvest is still in full swing, and it's the perfect time for retailers to promote some emerging varieties from Michigan: EverCrisp, Kanzi and KIKU, along with New York-grown SnapDragon and RubyFrost.  These apples deliver premium flavor and meet the full spectrum of flavor profiles for consumers, from super-sweet to sweet/tart, and tart.

Ken Korson, sales and apple category manager for North Bay Produce, a Traverse City, MI-based cooperative of growers, is charged with managing the apple sheds daily based on what the customers want and what the growers have to pack. 

This February during National Cancer Prevention Month, Chef Elle Simone Scott of America’s Test Kitchen will be inspiring consumers with Pazazz recipes. She will invite them to visit the American Institute for Cancer Research online tool to take the cancer health check and see how they measure up to current recommendations for cancer prevention.