ELGIN, MN - The word is out: Chilean Honeycrisps are arriving. The variety is set to hit retail bins as Honeybear® Brands announced the arrival of its 2021 fresh-picked Honeycrisp crop from Chile.
“We are always excited to share our new crop at a time of year when apples start to lose their fresh, flavorful taste due to months in storage,” says Don Roper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We invested heavily in our dual-hemisphere supply chain program more than two decades ago, and this has proven to be a real point of differentiation for our retail partners.”
The crop arrives just in time to provide retailers with a fresh organic and conventional Honeycrisp eating solution and strong promotional volumes to drive top-line sales all summer. According to the release, the Honeybear direct import program also features a supply of conventional and organic in each of the apple and pear varieties, including Honeycrisp, Gala, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Fuji, Braeburn, and Pink Lady apples, as well as Bartlett, Bosc, and Asian Pears.
“This year presents more opportunities as we continue transitioning our conventional orchards in Chile to organic production,” Roper continued. “For 2021, we will deliver double last year’s organic Honeycrisp supply, with increasing quantities looking forward. With over half of million cases of fresh Honeycrisp arriving this spring and summer, it really is a good time to promote the best eating apple in our marketplace.”
Honeybear expects to import over 1.5 million cases of apples and pears from Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand. The grower has built a unique program over the past 20 years, bringing high-quality products to the North American market and helping retail partners with a low-cost solution, all of which help drive sales and margin growth.
Widely known for its flavorful apples, the Honeybear Chilean Honeycrisp crop is successful due to exceptional growing conditions with just the right balance of warm days, cooler nights, and perfect rainfall. These conditions give the crop the classic Honeycrisp traits: high color; firm texture; and a juicy, crisp bite. In addition, the company’s team on the ground does precise work in growing, picking, and packing premium quality apples.
Keep an eye out for new updates in the produce industry as ANUK continues to report.
