Columbia Marketing International, headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, hit a home run with the introduction of new, exciting bag and bin options for retailers this apple season. A new two-pound standup pouch bag is available for the company’s line of organic apples marketed under the “Daisy Girl” label.

“The pouch bags seem to be very popular,” Vice President of Marketing Bob Mast told The Produce News on Dec. 18. “They stand up. They are a grab-and-go item.” The pouches have a built-in handle and sport an upscale look.

As a complement to the two-pound pouch, CMI also introduced a new two-box mini shipper, which can be used as a secondary display destination at retail.

“They are very good secondary destinations, especially during prime time shopping hours,” Mr. Mast stated. The units are shipped to retailers with everything needed to create the display at lightning speed. “They’re super easy to execute,” he added.

In addition to organic product, the mini shippers are also available for the company’s Ambrosia and Kiku apple varieties.

CMI is one of Washington’s premier tree fruit growers and shippers, and the company markets a full manifest of conventional and organic apples. “We are 15 percent of the Northwest’s organic production,” Mr. Mast said.

When the harvest was concluded, producers had reason to celebrate. Washington’s largest-ever apple crop was harvested in 2012. When the December storage report was issued, producers learned that previously-released volume figures had been revised upward, with the crop reaching 129 million boxes.

“It came at an opportune time with North America [apple volume] being down,” Mr. Mast stated.

In contrast with other apple seasons, Mr. Mast said labor was not an issue during the 2012 harvest. “Labor was much better than expected,” he said. “Initially, people weren’t sure if they could get all the fruit off the trees. We’re happy with the quality and commitment from the H-2A program.” Frost did not affect the ability of workers to get the fruit picked this season.

Current apple movement is furious. “The crop itself is moving at a very fast pace,” Mr. Mast went on to say. “We had record shipments last week.” As the industry came out of the Christmas holiday season, Mr. Mast said 30 percent of Washington’s crop had been shipped.

“Shipments are pretty darned good. It’s important that we keep this momentum over the winter months,” he noted.

The picture at CMI was equally glowing. “The crop came in larger than we expected,” he went on to say. “Young acreage with high-density plantings are surprising us. Sizing is a little larger this year than last year.” According to Mr. Mast, CMI was shipping extra large sized apples during the holiday season.

Even with the larger sizing, Mr. Mast added that smaller sized apples, which would typically have not made it to the floor, were available to meet processor demand.

Mr. Mast said consumers see their apple purchases as a real value, and this is especially true at a time when commodities such as strawberries have skyrocketed in price.