FirstFruits Farms“The improvement underscores the industry’s ability to recover from challenging years and adapt to changing conditions, highlighting its resilience and growth potential,” Cox said.
Honeycrisp remains a top varietal favorite, with significant interest, followed by Granny Smith and Gala.
“As we move into fall, we’re excited to continue offering premium-quality apples, especially with our expanded variety range due to the Applewood Fresh Growers acquisition,” Cox said. “This addition has boosted our production capacity and variety offerings, including popular varieties like Opal, Cosmic Crisp and SweeTango. Our commitment to serving families and nourishing communities ensures we deliver the freshest, most flavorful apples across the nation.”
Because today’s consumers are increasingly looking for high-flavor apple varieties that offer versatility, the company responded by dedicating more acreage to these types of apples.
“Organics have also become a major focus, with 2,000 acres now dedicated to organic production,” Cox said. “Additionally, export markets, particularly in Canada and Mexico, have grown in importance for us. To adapt to higher input costs, we’ve adjusted our growing and labor practices, focusing on increasing efficiencies across the board.”
The company understands that success in the apple category hinges on a deep understanding of both the customer and the consumer, and the FirstFruits’ team is ready to offer robust marketing and category management support to help partners succeed this fall season.
“It starts with growing high-quality fruit that meets evolving consumer demands for flavor, versatility and sustainability,” Cox said. “Staying ahead of trends, like the growing preference for organic and specialty varieties, is essential, as is the ability to adapt to changes in consumer behavior.”
