Market Minute: Apples ready for fall merchandising displays and promotions
Market Minute: Apples ready for fall merchandising displays and promotions
Archaeological evidence discovered that humans were eating apples as far back as 6500 B.C. They ate sour crabapples but eventually started cultivating sweeter apples in central Asia 6000 to 8000 years ago. European colonists brought apples to North America in the 1600s. So, apples were one of the early fruits that eventually became very popular with humans all over the planet.
There are over 7,500 varieties of apples in the entire world. The U.S. farmers grow over 2,500 of those varieties. Of that number, 100 varieties are grown commercially.
Apples are a favorite fruit all year round. But now is the time to set up impressive displays of apples for the fall and winter months when they are most appealing to shoppers.
Demand is moderate with a steady market on apples from the Yakima Valley and the Wenatchee region of Washington. The quality is exceptional coming out of Washington orchards. The fruit is large, clean and colorful with a nice sheen. Plenty of new crop apples are also coming out of many other shipping areas of the U.S. as well.
The ideal way to sell plenty of apples is with large displays. Stock those displays with the best customer-demanded varieties. The most popular apples in sales dollars are Honeycrisp, Gala, Granny Smith, Cosmic Crisp, Fuji, Pink Lady and Red Delicious.
In addition to loose apples, make sure to display poly, pouch and tote bags for additional sales. The ideal merchandising approach is either an end cap or free-standing display fully stocked with a nice visual presentation that will appeal to your customers.
Suppliers are ready with plenty of apples. So, put an ad plan together and promote new crop apples right now.
Ron Pelger is a produce industry adviser and industry writer. He can be contacted at 775/843-2394 or by e-mail at [email protected].
