WENATCHEE, WA – Ramping up its presence in the produce department, Stemilt Growers is now making national waves in other consumer realms. The company’s Piñata® apple was recently featured in SHAPE magazine, bolstered by another highlight from MarthaStewart.com.
“Piñata® continues to win people over with its unique flavor profile and incredible eating qualities,” said Brianna Shales, Stemilt Communications Manager. “The feature in SHAPE is exciting, as is the growing distribution of this hit apple. Piñata® apples were displayed in over 7,000 supermarkets in the U.S. last season, and we expect this year to be even bigger for this leading new variety.”
Creating added consumer buzz, Piñata® made an appearance in SHAPE’s “Eat Right” column. According to a press release, the variety was featured in the national publication, reaching 2.5 million consumers, as one of three new varieties to snack on. The Piñata® was chosen for its tropical flavor, which has hints of pineapple and vanilla.
“It’s the best looking and best tasting crop of Piñata® apples that we’ve ever had,” continued Shales. The company’s 2016 harvest of Piñata®’s wrapped in October. “Exceptional fruit quality, finish, and sizing has set the stage for great retail promotions this winter, and the opportunity for the apple to continue to win consumers over.”
A cross between golden Delicious and two European heirloom varieties, Cox’s Orange Pippin and Duchess of Oldenburg, the Piñata® boasts a crisp and juicy bite, high sugar, and high acid. Its thin skin and flesh can withstand cooking temperatures, which makes the variety a great baking and cooking apple for the winter and holiday months.
Likewise, Stemilt’s new digital consumer resource was featured in October on MarthaStewart.com. There’s An Apple for That was named in an article on the website titled “This Site Can Help you Pick the Best Apple Varieties for Fall Baking”. The article tells readers how to use the website as a resource for finding the best apple for any recipe.
“There’s An Apple For That is all about reinventing traditional apple of the month promotions with fun signage focused on calling out the unique qualities of a particular apple variety,” Shales said. “Consumers will be excited to give Fuji a try because it’s the apple for your sweet tooth, or will know to use Granny Smith when baking because of its mouth-watering tartness. The digital component of There’s an Apple For That and the media coverage it's generating in top publications, like MarthaStewart.com, add an unmatched level of support to retailers who merchandise apples through There’s An Apple For That.”
MarthaStewart.com’s article was shared 676 times across social media channels. The website garners 11.4 million unique monthly visits. Stemilt introduced its digital component of There’s An Apple for That earlier this year, and then based its merchandising program around the campaign to further promote an apple of the moth, or multiple varieties of big apple promotions. This merchandising program gives retailers a fresh look with POS signage, display bins, and an apple concierge sampling program.
As companies throughout the industry continue to be recognized on national levels for innovative products and marketing campaigns, AndNowUKnow will continue to have the latest.
