<p>FirstFruits Marketing, in an effort to increase awareness with consumers, invited bloggers from across the country to tour Broetje Orchards, home of Opal® apple, on September 27 and 28. Bloggers came for a day and a half tour for the opportunity to learn first-hand about growing, harvesting and packing apples as well as providing a chance to meet the inspirational people behind the apple company, according to a press release.<img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/firstfruits_marketing_food_blogging_october_2013_Body_01.jpg" alt="Cropped images October 14th 2013" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Ralph Broetje, founder of FirstFruits and Broetje Orchards, and wife Cheryl met with bloggers to share the history of Broetje Orchards, and how they grew into serving their employees and supporting the community. "I will never look at an apple the same way again after learning what goes into producing apples. Farm to table… and it’s amazing,” wrote blogger Katie Jasiewicz.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/firstfruits_marketing_food_blogging_october_2013_Body_02.jpg" alt="Cropped images October 14th 2013" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Bloggers toured the Tierra Vida community which offers affordable, quality homes built in the interest of giving all employees the opportunity to become homeowners in safe, nurturing environment. Additionally, bloggers learned about the company’s efforts around the world to build, empower and educate the underserved. As a company, FirstFruits Marketing donates 10 percent of profits annually, with Broetje Orchards donating at least 50 percent to causes fitting the company’s mission worldwide. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>FirstFruits Marketing was started by the Broetjes four years ago when they decided they needed a marketing arm that was in line with their mission – “to be a quality fruit company bearing fruit that will last.” While the picking crew went on a break, a couple of the bloggers strapped on bags and tried their hand at picking and placing apples in bins, which was eye-opening to them for the amount of skill required.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Many of the bloggers, who included Leslie Green from The Hungry Housewife, Katie Jasiewicz from Katie’s Cucina, Kevin Lynch from Closet Cooking, and Lindsay and Bjork Ostrum from Pinch of Yum, had never tasted Opal. Although the crop isn’t yet ready for picking, they learned how to spot a ripe Opal and started picking! </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The purpose of the tour was twofold - to have the bloggers understand the growing, harvesting, packing and storage processes of Washington apples and to give them an opportunity to see inside an apple company like no other. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>ANUK wants to congratulate FirstFruits for creating consumer awareness through inspiring bloggers!<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.firstfruits.com/Orchard-in-the-News.com" target="_new"> FirstFruits</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
