Throughout myth, apples have symbolized the great highs and lows of humanity. Love, beauty, wisdom, and heartache all reside within the candied hues of the category, making it ripe for innovation and consumer demand alike. The chilly climes of the Northern Hemisphere this time of year pose an array of opportunities for apples to tell a story all their own, and these industry captains are going to tell you how…
“Apples are synonymous with the fall season, and the mix of varieties available just keeps getting better. It’s the year of the Cosmic Crisp®, with this once up-and-coming apple now a year-round core variety that easily ranks within the top apples sold across the United States. Stemilt is on the forefront of organic Cosmic Crisp growth and excited to continue introducing merchandising solutions that help retailers win at the point-of-sale. From our popular Lil Snappers® kid-size fruit line to sustainable EZ Band four-pack for Artisan Organics® apples, we have a variety of tactics to help grow volumes and the category!”
“Apple harvest is here! Field crews are busy picking in the orchards, and every other truck on the road is loaded with bins of fruit. While we ship apples year-round these days, there’s still a giddy feeling during the fall harvest as we look forward to new opportunities. If this year’s cherry season is any indication, we’re expecting a perfectly manageable and quality crop of crunchy, high-flavor apples. Envy™ continues to shine as a premium apple for the apple lover, alongside more gorgeous Honeycrisp and a full selection of year-round, Washington-grown organics. As usual, we encourage retailers to lean into peak apple season with lots of shelf space and fall-themed merchandising. We can provide point-of-sale materials highlighting Rainier as a family-owned apple shipper to capture U.S. family-grown pride.”
“Winter is the ideal season to spotlight apples! At CMI, we grow an apple for every occasion and innovate retail tools to make your job as easy as possible. Savor the intense flavor of Kanzi® in festive baked delights. Envy™ brings luxury to gatherings, perfect for moments worth celebrating. Ambrosia Gold®, irresistibly honey-sweet and slow to brown, makes entertaining a breeze. Cosmic Crisp®, JUICI®, and SugarBee® apples dazzle in fruit bowls and table spreads, bursting with crunch and flavor. Alongside these stars, our range of top-selling apples and buttery-sweet pears are primed for robust holiday promotions.”
“We’ve been closely monitoring a trend in variety switching between Cosmic Crisp® and Honeycrisp apples that started with the 2022 crop, when Honeycrisp supply dipped. We learned that fans of both varieties have many similarities and are open to switching based on availability and price. Retailer data through August 2024 highlights this, showing both apples resonate with female Caucasians aged 45–74, especially in higher-income households. With Honeycrisp volume down and the Cosmic Crisp crop up, now is a great time for retailers to swap in Cosmic Crisp, keeping those year-over-year sales strong and steady!”
“This fall, it’s about bringing new consumers to the apple category and exciting those already making it a destination. Our newer varieties like Cosmic Crisp®, SugarBee®, and Rockit™ please the tastebuds of discerning shoppers. These apples drive loyalty with consumers through their consistently delicious flavor. The apple itself is the best promotion; if the taste is there, they will repurchase. It’s also possible that with pear volume being down, we may see these shoppers turn to the apple category to supplement their shopping baskets.”
“A trifecta of value, flavor, and nutrition, apples are the perfect pick for shoppers who are taking more time to carefully plan where their grocery dollars go. To encourage consumers to not skip this staple fresh item, retailers should offer demos and educate about seasonality, usage, and health benefits. Our mission to provide consistent quality is now even stronger with the acquisition of Michigan’s Applewood Fresh Growers. This multi-regional strategic expansion has not only increased production capacity but also expanded our variety offerings, ensuring a diverse selection of apples, including high-flavor favorites like Opal®, Cosmic Crisp®, EverCrisp®, and SweeTango®.”
“The holiday season offers an excellent opportunity to inspire and delight consumers with baking, gift-giving, and entertainment ideas, whether through in-store displays, usage ideas shared on social media, or retailers’ websites. Festive displays featuring charcuterie boards adorned with crisp New York apples, specialty cheeses, artisan meats, and fruit preserves can lead to impulse sales and make party planning much more manageable. Sharing delicious recipes for baked goods and conveniently grouping all the needed ingredients can simplify the shopping experience and inspire impulse buys. Consumers love giving apples as a holiday gift—think craft baskets, decorative holiday bags, and cross merchandising with a selection of nut butter, specialty nuts, and artisan crackers.”
“ENVY™ apples are not just winning hearts—they’re also driving impressive sales. As one of America’s leading premium apple brands, ENVY has achieved a double-digit sales increase year over year, with 2024 marking its fourth consecutive year of growth. This sustained upward trajectory highlights the brand’s strong position as a premium choice for everyday apple lovers. 
