U.S. military commissaries pick New York apples
U.S. military commissaries pick New York apples
The New York Apple Association in Fishers, NY, announced that its 2006 Defense Commissary Agency display contest was an overwhelming success.
With a total of 20 entries, it was the second-highest participation in the seven-year history of the program. Four winning displays were chosen, with awards going to Patrick AFB Commissary in Patrick, FL; Fort Gillem Commissary in Forest Park, GA; Fort Rucker Commissary in Fort Rucker, AL; and Fort Drum Commissary in Fort Drum, NY.
"Over the years, we've worked closely with commissaries to encourage them to promote New York apples," David McClurg, vice president of marketing for the association, said in a statement.
Jim Allen, president of the association, commented that he was especially touched by comments from Fort Drum, NY. "Unfortunately, this year the Fort Drum Commissary produce department did not see an increase in sales over the same period last year because we have over 7,000 troops deployed to the Middle East fighting the war on terror," said Steve Martin, Fort Drum produce management team.
"Despite the lower number of customers, Fort Drum's produce department's management team did an outstanding job with this year's displays," Mr. Allen said. "They continue to do their part to keep life as normal as possible for their military families."
The 2006 contest required commissaries to construct apple displays using New York state apples and identify those apples with the "Apple Country" logo. Displays were to include a minimum of three apple varieties in either bagged or bulk. Apple varieties used were McIntosh, Empire, Gala, Jonagold, Crispin, Red Delicious, Rome, Cortland and any other New York state variety that the commissary chose.
Commissaries competed to win one of four 48-inch Euro display tables.
The contest ran from Jan. 30 to March 4, and the display had to be up for a minimum of four weeks. This contest was open to any U.S. DeCA Commissaries that choose to participate.
Entries were judged on the creative use of display materials, originality and sales appeal. Entrants were asked to send the details of the results of the promotion such as sales increases or increases in cases sold.
One of the comments that came in with the entries and photos included the following:
"With our wide variety of New York apples, we could not help but sell, sell, sell. We brought in 114 cases of apples and had no trouble selling them all. Last year at this time we sold other apples and only sold 39 cases of them. That says a lot for the great product and great display. Not only did our display sell apples, it also increased the sale of Marzetti products."
Some of the entries included sales comments that helped to reinforce how well this contest was received. Sales went up over the same period last year by 10 percent at one location, 85 percent at another and a whopping 185 percent at still another.
With a total of 20 entries, it was the second-highest participation in the seven-year history of the program. Four winning displays were chosen, with awards going to Patrick AFB Commissary in Patrick, FL; Fort Gillem Commissary in Forest Park, GA; Fort Rucker Commissary in Fort Rucker, AL; and Fort Drum Commissary in Fort Drum, NY.
"Over the years, we've worked closely with commissaries to encourage them to promote New York apples," David McClurg, vice president of marketing for the association, said in a statement.
Jim Allen, president of the association, commented that he was especially touched by comments from Fort Drum, NY. "Unfortunately, this year the Fort Drum Commissary produce department did not see an increase in sales over the same period last year because we have over 7,000 troops deployed to the Middle East fighting the war on terror," said Steve Martin, Fort Drum produce management team.
"Despite the lower number of customers, Fort Drum's produce department's management team did an outstanding job with this year's displays," Mr. Allen said. "They continue to do their part to keep life as normal as possible for their military families."
The 2006 contest required commissaries to construct apple displays using New York state apples and identify those apples with the "Apple Country" logo. Displays were to include a minimum of three apple varieties in either bagged or bulk. Apple varieties used were McIntosh, Empire, Gala, Jonagold, Crispin, Red Delicious, Rome, Cortland and any other New York state variety that the commissary chose.
Commissaries competed to win one of four 48-inch Euro display tables.
The contest ran from Jan. 30 to March 4, and the display had to be up for a minimum of four weeks. This contest was open to any U.S. DeCA Commissaries that choose to participate.
Entries were judged on the creative use of display materials, originality and sales appeal. Entrants were asked to send the details of the results of the promotion such as sales increases or increases in cases sold.
One of the comments that came in with the entries and photos included the following:
"With our wide variety of New York apples, we could not help but sell, sell, sell. We brought in 114 cases of apples and had no trouble selling them all. Last year at this time we sold other apples and only sold 39 cases of them. That says a lot for the great product and great display. Not only did our display sell apples, it also increased the sale of Marzetti products."
Some of the entries included sales comments that helped to reinforce how well this contest was received. Sales went up over the same period last year by 10 percent at one location, 85 percent at another and a whopping 185 percent at still another.
