Pape said that retailers must do their part to help build awareness and generate consumer excitement. “In recent years retailers have been doing a great job of putting the fall favorites front-and-center in the produce section,” Pape said. “There’s a lot of nostalgia and excitement around autumn in general, so consumers tend to be pretty excited about bringing back their go to fall recipes that feature the locally grown products they love.”
Pape added that some of the top fall produce the company is looking at this year includes wet vegetables like cabbage, kale, and spinach, and hard squash like butternut, acorn and spaghetti squash. “You can’t forget cranberries — they’re another iconic fall item all over the country,” she added. “What’s cool about our cranberries is that they’re grown by families who’ve been doing this for generations, some for over five generations. It’s not just about keeping the tradition alive — it’s about making sure the quality and sustainability are top-notch, which is why people love Jersey Fresh cranberries so much.”
She also noted that on top of the local fall season, Donio has been making moves with its import blueberry program. “We’ve invested further in our partnership with our Peruvian blueberries this year,” Pape said. “We’ll have Planasa varieties like Blue Medeira and Blue Manila in production this year. This means we’ll have a steady supply of large, firm blueberries with an awesome flavor profile throughout the fall and winter.
“We’re looking forward to the plants yielding a consistent supply of jumbo blueberries, which we know people love,” Pape continued. “It’s all about making sure we can keep delivering top-quality fruit even after the U.S. season wraps up, and we’re really proud of what we’ve put together. At the end of the day, it’s about working with nature, planning for the future and being ready to roll with whatever comes our way.”
