New Oneonta bin sleeve creates versatility in produce department
New Oneonta bin sleeve creates versatility in produce department
A new bin sleeve designed by Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers for its applesnaQ program will help retailers drive apple sales in the produce department. “It slides over a store’s existing tri-walled bin and has our school bus and kids graphics on it,” said National Marketing Representative Dan Wohlford.
Oneonta places a strong emphasis on providing category management services to its retail partners. “This enables them to target in on the varieties, sizes and packs that consumers are buying. These data allow retailers to make marketing decisions based on accurate data and not just a hunch or a ‘gut’ feeling about the category,” he added.
Wohlford said Oneonta estimates it will market 15 million cases of apples this season. Of this total, 1.2 million boxes will be organic.
He provided some comments about the current production season. “It was a very unusual spring in terms of weather,” he told The Produce News. “Early spring was very warm and that ‘woke up’ the trees earlier than normal. Then it stayed warm. So the fruit is maturing earlier than normal, in some cases as much as two weeks earlier than we have ever seen before.”
Oneonta began its harvest in the middle of August and activity will continue until the first hard freeze, typically in late November. “We are anticipating sizing to be slightly smaller than last year. That being said, there will be plenty of mid-range size fruit to be had. We think the 80-88 size will be plentiful and promotable,” he stated.
Export Sales Manager Steve Reinholt said Oneonta will be moving apples to China this season. “We plan to move apples to China in volume,” he said.
