Oneonta reports good movement, good demand and steady resolve
Oneonta reports good movement, good demand and steady resolve
The fires in eastern Washington have, as of Sept. 21, burned nearly 1 million acres. But throughout the months of heat, smoke and personal loss, fruit growers and shippers have stayed the course, showing the resolve of Washington fruit growers.
Now, with the end of 2015’s apple harvest just a month down the road and business going strong, Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers is reporting a heightened market for big fruit, which is in “very short supply right now,” according to Marketing Director Scott Marboe.
Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers' Honeycrisp. (Photo courtesy of Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers)
Due to the smaller sizing, volume is down this year at an anticipated 13 million boxes of apples, but Marboe said quality of all the fruit has been excellent.
“We set up a good amount of pre-packaged bag business ahead of time in anticipation of this smaller crop, and that is helping movement on those smaller sizes. Domestic retail partners have been doing great jobs at promoting,” he said in a press release.
Those promotions are tailored for U.S. consumers who love Washington apples, and Marboe said domestic demand is good. In addition, foreign markets continue to expand, and he said, “Export demand is great in many countries.”
Apple harvest is expected to wrap up in October, and as the 2015 program, which includes organics, rocks along, Oneonta has been engaged in several promotional campaigns that include “a very successful fall promotion with our back-to-school SnaQ bags and tri-wall bins,” he said.
Marboe added that more promos are planned for the year, and he and his colleagues will be at PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta, where existing and potential customers come by the tens of thousands to experience a snapshot of what the fresh produce industry has to offer. This year OSRG will be showcasing two new apples at the expo.
"We’re introducing some new varieties for sample, and the Juici will be available as well as the Cosmic Crisp to try," he said. "We are still a year away from volume on Juici, but the feedback and demand on this new apple is really encouraging worldwide.”
The two will join an extensive Oneonta Washington apple manifest that includes not only the iconic Red and Golden Delicious but also other popular varietals such as Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji and Jonagold.
