Stellar Distributing Inc. provides its customers with just the right mix of fall fruit to keep customer produce displays stocked with quality product. “[We market] kiwi, limes, grapes, figs, pomegranates, persimmons and chestnuts,” Salesman Brian Lapin told The Produce News. The company is headquartered in Madera, CA.

“Some of the products we do are specific to the fall,” Lapin went on to say. “Figs, which start in late April, run all the way through the end of the year for us. The fall months see a steady amount of production with peaks and valleys on certain months which is always dictated by the weather.”

Lapin said there are no real volume spikes in the fall for limes, which see steady movement throughout the year. “[With] kiwi we have a bit of an influx [in the fall] because we have our Chilean kiwi and also start our California program as well,” he noted.

Pomegranate and persimmon sales ramp up in late September. “The pomegranates are heaviest during the fall months, and we try and make them last well into the winter months as well,” Lapin said. “Persimmons are on much the same time line as pomegranates.”

Looking at overall product volume, Lapin said 80 percent of persimmons and pomegranates are moved during the fall months. Sixty five percent of figs, 40 percent of kiwi and 25 percent of limes move at this time of year.

“Quality is really nice right now,” he commented. “For the kiwi, you don’t have rocks that will break windows. But there is still nice pressure overall. The kiwi is actually developing some nice sugar, which is a good thing for the consumer. Figs are prime time right now, and this is arguably the best time for quality in the year on figs as far as shipping, arrivals and eating for the consumer. Limes are a very solid commodity for us, and we are very lucky to have nice quality on those always.”

Stellar services all market sectors. The company’s primary labels are “Fresh Figs,” “Emerald Empire” and “Kiwi Kids.”

The “Kiwi Kids” brand is a relatively new offering for Stellar. “It is a way for us to try and appeal to the parents as shoppers but also the kids shopping with parents,” Lapin explained. “It is a really bright and colorful box accompanied with bags, pouches, clams or VF [snack packaging], and the idea is to catch the eye to draw them in so that they will be interested, but at the same time get these families going on one of the healthiest fruit options around.”

Stellar markets fruit domestically and abroad. “Canada, Mexico and the Netherlands are a few of our most popular locations for sending fruit this season. But we are always looking for the next great spot to ship to whether it be domestically or abroad,” Lapin added.