<p><strong>Wenatchee, WA</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Stemilt Growers is preparing to begin its 2012 apricot harvest in central Washington. Stemilt marketing director Roger Pepperl predicts that ideal weather conditions have helped to produce an excellent apricot crop this season. “Apricots are the first trees to bloom in Washington state each spring, and frost or late cold snaps are always concerning for growers. Fortunately, we had a warm spring this year and are expecting a clean, high-quality, and large volume apricot crop as a result,” Mr. Pepperl states. He adds that central Washington’s climate, known traditionally for long warm days followed by cool nights, helps build sugars and add color to the fruit.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Washington’s largest apricot grower/shipper expects to produce a whopping 250,000 cartons of apricots this year. Apricot harvest will run from mid-June through the end of July and will consist mainly of two varieties—Rival and Perfection. About 60% of Stemilt’s apricots are grown and certified as organic and are marketed under the Artisan Organics label, while the remaining 40% are conventional. Mr. Pepperl states, “Natural farming techniques, like using compost as a nutrient-rich fertilizer, are used in our conventional and organic orchards in order to deliver high-quality fruit that is bound to impress consumers at stores this summer.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Stemilt offers a wide assortment or packing and merchandising options to retailers to promote this year’s apricot crop. “The crop is sizing up nicely which gives retailers a lot of packaging options including tray packs, clamshells, tote bags, and the popular random-weight bag,” Mr. Pepperl states. Stemilt also makes pop-up display bins that can hold two cartons of fruit or multiple bags as well as relevant signage for in-and-out promotions available to retailers. “Sharing the story from the farm really resonates with consumers. These display bins are perfect for building secondary displays to move apricots during peak promotion times,” Mr. Pepperl adds.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.stemilt.com/Our_Fruit/OurFruit_SummerFruit.cfm" target="_new"> Stemilt</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
