WENATCHEE, WA - Always looking to stay at the top of its game by producing the best quality fruit, Stemilt has teamed up with Apeel to improve the consumer experience with crisper apples. Through this collaboration, the grower will remain committed to its Artisan Organics® brand promise to produce organic fruit that delights shoppers.
“The organic apple crop is in tighter supply this year, but still an important part of the apple category at 16 percent of total apple dollars nationally. It’s also a growth area for the future of apples,” said Brianna Shales, Stemilt’s Marketing Director. “Stemilt has a long legacy in organics, and many tools up our sleeves to ensure quality, flavor, and consistency coincide with the consumer experience for Artisan Organic fruit.”
One of the supplier’s key tools has become Apeel’s plant-based protection for its Artisan Organics apples, a release stated. The companies began their partnership in 2020 when Stemilt first started using the solutions company’s proprietary coating made from peels, seeds, and the pulps of fruits and veggies on its organic apples.
“Every step in our organic apple process is about freshness and putting shelf-life back in the hands of retailers and consumers,” added Shales. “We have strict harvest and storage protocols for organics and strive to pack fruit fresh to order. We also have Apeel to maintain the crisp texture of apples and increase shelf-life once the fruit is packed.”
A third-party panel of professional evaluators at Washington State University recently found that Apeel-protected organic apples were crispier than their undertreated counterparts at the time apples would usually be in consumers’ homes.
“Crispness is a leading factor of freshness for consumers,” explained Ellise Fallon, Apeel’s Commercial Director of Tree Fruit. “Apeel’s plant-based protection is proven to keep organic apples crisper for longer, ensuring the ideal eating experience and helping to prevent apples from going to waste. We are proud to support Stemilt’s commitment to delighting customers and creating a more sustainable food system.”
Stemilt grows its organic apples in high-density orchards in Central Washington and offers a year-round supply of core organic varieties and shopper favorites like Honeycrisp, SweeTango®, and Cosmic Crisp®.
“Organics have been a differentiator at Stemilt since 1989, and we continue to build around our Artisan Organics brand,” continued Shales. “The organic shopper is a powerhouse purchaser of produce, and especially fruits. In fact, IRI recently reported that apples were a top three organic fruit item last year as organic fruits grew by 11 percent year over year. Elevating the consumer experience is what we aim to do when producing Artisan Organics fruit, and that will ultimately drive consumer purchases of organics in the future.”
To learn more about Apeel and Stemilt’s partnership, stop by booth #3571 at the Global Fresh Produce & Floral Show.
