WENATCHEE, WA - Retailers, why not make this season the moment for apples? As Stemilt revs up preparations for the upcoming International Fresh Produce Association's Global Produce & Floral Show (GPFS), Marketing Director Brianna Shales was generous enough to give us a sneak peek of what visitors can look forward to, including merchandising displays, trending apple varieties, and Stemilt’s 60th anniversary.
“As visitors get to know Stemilt and its history at this year’s IFPA show, we hope they have the chance to experience our passion for cultivating people and delighting consumers through excellence,” begins Brianna as she explains how Stemilt differentiates itself in the industry. “We work hard to put freshness into each piece of fruit because we believe it’s the job of one piece of fruit to ensure consumers pick up another!”
Stemilt’s 60th anniversary will surely be brought up in conversation with retail partners and attendees at Stemilt’s booth #B2347. The grower will be bringing in elements of its campaign, World Famous Fruit by World Famous Families, to expand its trade show message. This campaign highlights Stemilt as a family-owned company operated through five generations of the Mathison family, and also the families of employees who have collaborated with them.
Also a highlight of the Stemilt showcase will be its high-profile varieties. With Cosmic Crisp® and SweeTango® rising in popularity, these varieties make great offerings to consumers, both due to flavor and an unbeatable crunch. The marketing pro shares more on how Stemilt has all it takes to deliver flavorful and fresh apples that both delights consumers and keeps bringing rings at the register.
“Our goal is to help retailers merchandise varieties through packaging and branding that helps drive consumer purchases,” shares Brianna, teasing a bit more of what to expect at Stemilt’s booth. “There will be many Stemilt products merchandised in creative ways on the show floor, including our Artisan Organics® brand, the new Happi Pear®, Cosmic Crisp apples, SweeTango apples, Aura® apples, Lil Snappers®, and our line of Artisan Organics® EZ Bands, including two brand new EZ Band pear packages.”
Circling back to the benefits of Cosmic Crisp apples, volumes of Honeycrisp are down 30 percent in 2024–2025. And with the many merchandising opportunities Stemilt has in store, this is the perfect time for the newer Crisp to shine. When asked about the current climate of the industry, Brianna leaves us with some final thoughts.
“If there was ever a year to focus on apple sales, this is the year to do it!” she says. “We’ll have good supply for the season ahead, and there’s lots of opportunity, especially with organic Cosmic Crisp and SweeTango apples.”
As Stemilt continues to excel in its merchandising initiatives and offering eye-catching packaging that sets itself apart at retail, we look forward to reporting more on these diverse apple varieties that keep consumers coming back.
Cheers to Stemilt on its 60th anniversary and to what will surely be a successful showcase.
