Washington growers bring taste of new apples to Texas and South Carolina
Washington growers bring taste of new apples to Texas and South Carolina
Shoppers at select grocery stores in Greenville, SC, Houston and San Antonio, TX, got a treat the second weekend in January when a group of Washington apple growers brought a taste of their own Enza Pacific Rose and Jazz apples to town.
The crisp, sweet Pacific Rose and the tart-sweet Jazz were met with such enthusiasm during the grower sampling appearances that many stores sold out before the end of the weekend, according to David Nelley, pipfruit category director for the Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer Group.
?Grower visits like these give consumers the chance to see the people behind the produce they buy in the store," said Mr. Nelley. "The growers, in turn, can witness consumer reactions to the fruit they produce. When that reaction is overwhelmingly positive, as it has been with these two gourmet varieties, then all the effort made to cultivate the new trees seems worthwhile.
?Eastern Washington has the ideal climate for these new apples, especially the Pacific Rose," continued Mr. Nelley. "Our volumes are increasing each year, and retailers are achieving good results. Momentum for the varieties is really building."
The Pacific Rose is a cross of the Gala and Splendour varieties, available from Washington state now through mid-February, and May through August from New Zealand. According to Mr. Nelley, it is the most popular apple domestically in its South Pacific homeland. Jazz is the result of a Gala and Braeburn cross.
Although only trial volumes of Jazz have been available from Washington and New Zealand so far, it shows great promise as a new favorite with consumers and retailers alike.
The crisp, sweet Pacific Rose and the tart-sweet Jazz were met with such enthusiasm during the grower sampling appearances that many stores sold out before the end of the weekend, according to David Nelley, pipfruit category director for the Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer Group.
?Grower visits like these give consumers the chance to see the people behind the produce they buy in the store," said Mr. Nelley. "The growers, in turn, can witness consumer reactions to the fruit they produce. When that reaction is overwhelmingly positive, as it has been with these two gourmet varieties, then all the effort made to cultivate the new trees seems worthwhile.
?Eastern Washington has the ideal climate for these new apples, especially the Pacific Rose," continued Mr. Nelley. "Our volumes are increasing each year, and retailers are achieving good results. Momentum for the varieties is really building."
The Pacific Rose is a cross of the Gala and Splendour varieties, available from Washington state now through mid-February, and May through August from New Zealand. According to Mr. Nelley, it is the most popular apple domestically in its South Pacific homeland. Jazz is the result of a Gala and Braeburn cross.
Although only trial volumes of Jazz have been available from Washington and New Zealand so far, it shows great promise as a new favorite with consumers and retailers alike.
