MONTEREY, CA - Can you smell the sweet ocean air of the California coast yet? Does it float with the fragrance of apples and pears? If not, then it should. As we quickly approach the Organic Produce Summit (OPS) this week, companies from across the industry will converge on this coastal town to strategize organic success and share their fresh fruit and vegetable portfolios. One such company is Chelan Fresh—a star in the apple and pear categories, that will be exhibiting this week.
As we race toward the OPS starting line, I spoke with Kevin Stennes, the Organic Sales Manager for the treefruit powerhouse, who shared the company’s organic news and message for the show.
“The Chelan Fresh team is excited to be back in Monterey for OPS. We have increased our organic volume by approximately 35 percent over the past couple of seasons. To support our partners, we have the volume, quality, consistency, and seasonal longevity to service any and all customers,” Kevin shares with me. “Chelan Fresh focuses on core organic apple varieties while also providing exciting delicacies like SugarBee® and Rockit™ apples, which are exclusive to our company. In addition, we also have a full lineup of organic pears. Our 3rd and 4th generation growers have been dedicated to organic production for up to 30 years.”
Chelan Fresh’s core organic apple varieties include Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Cosmic Crisp® with an organic pear program coming to the forefront with Bartlett, Starkrimson, d’Anjou, Bosc, and Red d’Anjou.
This year, Chelan Fresh is also debuting a new brand identity: Joyfully Grown™. This program celebrates the history, experience, passion, quality, and people behind Chelan Fresh’s products and presents them to the consumer in a way that creates meaningful brand loyalty.
“Joyfully Grown says it all! We have recognized and put on display the joy that is experienced in producing food for the world,” Kevin reflects. “Hard work and disappointment—from weather to market dynamics—are all part of agriculture, but there is an underlying satisfaction and joy that permeates a group of similarly-focused people on a mission to grow and provide nutritious and enjoyable food to consumers around the world.”
The company’s new brand truly encompasses the unique mindset and driving force that makes this industry so beautifully complex and passionate. And that sentiment flows from heart to fruit and will be visually represented in packaging from the new Joyfully Grown Organic brand as well as Organic SugarBee, Organic Rockit, and Organic Cosmic Crisp.
When I ask Kevin what makes Chelan Fresh an amazing company to partner with for any buying operation’s organic programs, he does not skip a beat.
“The satisfaction and joy that we have in doing our part to contribute to the agricultural food supply comes through in our enthusiasm, customer service, and genuine care for our customers and partners,” he tells me.
While this is the end of the article for our readers here today, it is only the beginning of many more conversations to come.
Learn more about Chelan Fresh’s organic program, new Joyfully Grown brand identity, and more at OPS booth #207, and see you all soon in Monterey!
