Okanagan Specialty Fruits, developer and grower behind the innovative Arctic apple, announced a line of staff changes and promotions in 2021 at the vice president and manager level.

For the latest 12 weeks ending Feb. 21, apples continued their dollars up and volume down trajectory and experienced a 1.2 percent growth in dollars, according to Stemilt's Fruit Tracker Fast Facts The Cast series, which is based on Nielsen retail scan data. The pear category was up 13 percent in dollars and 6 percent in volume over the latest 12 weeks.

South Africa’s main apple and pear production areas in the western region had an excellent winter season with ample rain, snow and cold units. This was followed up by very good flower and set periods between October and December 2020. These favorable conditions provides a good indicator for a strong apple and pear crop this season. 

The Western Cape experienced less wind and overall good weather conditions. Unfortunately the Eastern Cape did not experience the same. In mid-January a hail storm ripped through the Eastern Cape production area of Langkloof.

One in 24 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer1, but early detection and eating a cancer-protective diet can reduce your risk. Pazazz apples is partnering with the Colon Cancer Coalition to remind customers to “make a booty call” and get screened. Playful “make a booty call” stickers will be placed on Pazazz bagged apples at retail outlets throughout the month of March and are designed to catch the customer’s attention. Retailers can also support the program with point-of-sale materials and digital assets.

CMI Orchards has something new to inform shoppers and boost retail apple sales in 2021. Apples have traditionally been presented to consumers in relatively simple terms, but with so many new varieties on the market a more robust vernacular has been overdue. “We’ve taken what has historically been a one dimensional approach and increased the breadth and depth with which we describe and compare apple varieties,” said Rochelle Bohm, brand manager for CMI Orchards.

CMI Orchards announced that Ambrosia apples are dominating sales in the Southern Region, with strong sales reported throughout the rest of the United States.