WENATCHEE, WA – Stemilt Growers is giving organic shoppers cause to rejoice this year. The company has announced plans to expand its Apple Lover 5lb. pouch bag program by adding multiple Artisan Organics™ apple varieties at the end of January.
“The Apple Lover pack increases the shopper’s purchase size, so we see a rise in volume, which leads to increased sales for the retailer,” said Roger Pepperl, Marketing Director, in a company press release. “We expect to see a considerable amount of success with the Artisan Organics Apple Lover pack due to the convenience of the bag and the overall increase of the organic category.”
The company also noted that Pepperl believes that organic varieties available will engage well with organic shoppers who consume large amounts of apples each week, as the entirety of the organic category continues to expand. Stemilt’s popular Apple Lover program was launched in 2016, and the company noted, the program has since captured the attention of the biggest apple shoppers in stores helping retailers to boost volume sales of apples.
The Artisan Organics Apple Lover 5lb. bag will feature four popular organic varieties including: Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious.
“These varieties will bode well with organic apple shoppers as they are long-lasting varieties, that are popular among every age group,” noted Pepperl. “The bag is brightly colored so it really pops in the refrigerator, encouraging kids and adults alike to grab an apple—resulting in quicker consumption.”
According to Stemilt, the Artisan Organics Apple Lover pack design and packaging was created in-house by the company’s marketing team. The pouch bag was designed to appeal to shoppers with its grab-and-go convenience, and each pack also has the ability to stand up, making it easier for the consumer to store in their refrigerator and for retailers to create unique displays to show off the fruit.
“The capabilities that these Artisan Organics Apple Lover 5lb. pouch bags have allows retailers to really get creative about how to display the fruit,” added Pepperl. “The DRC’s match the bright and colorful personality of the bag and are essentially like building blocks, so you can make prominent displays to catch the eye of the consumer. Plus, the vibrant color of the Granny Smith variety will really pop against the red varieties, allowing for some fun color blocks.”
Stemilt Growers has been growing organics since 1989, when Founder Tom Mathison transitioned a large amount of acreage from conventional to organic. Today, Tate Mathison, Tom’s grandson and Director of Sales at Stemilt, is focused on ensuring that Stemilt’s Artisan Organics program is consumer-driven.
“Today, Stemilt focuses on its Artisan Organics apple program on growing modern varieties that shoppers want,” said Mathison. “Pouch bags are extremely user-friendly, while organic is a top choice among fresh produce consumers, making the combination of the two very profitable among retailers.”
Pepperl, who foresees continuous increases in the organic category after Stemilt’s organic apple volumes increased by more than 50 percent year-over-year, added, “Our Artisan Organics program is only getting larger. We are excited to watch the expansion of organics and continue to provide consumers with the flavors they want through the Artisan Organics programs.”
Stemilt’s Artisan Organics Apple Lover packs will be available until early summer. For more fresh produce news, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
