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Summer has arrived and with it comes the start of Stemilt’s apricot season. The company is encouraging retailers to open those promotional windows right now to kick off hot summer sales of Artisan Organics™ and conventional apricots.
“Mid-June is here and retailers should be actively promoting these jumbo apricots we are packing right now,” states Brianna Shales, communications manager at Stemilt. “Retailers can start loading today and plan on loading apricots through July 15.”
The 2018 crop is heavy with larger sizes and retailers should center promotions on bulk sales, explains Shales. With the beautiful coloring and organic availability, panta packs will be the primary pack type for Stemilt apricots.
“Our Artisan Organics™ apricots are well known for their eye-catching blush and bright golden color,” said Shales. “This year will be no exception and, in a complete reversal of last season, large fruit sizes are much more prevalent this year,” states Shales.
Approximately 60 percent of Stemilt’s apricots are grown and certified organic. Retailers should start organic sales with the popular organic Robada variety, that comes with a deep red blush and juicy bite. To continue the push, Shales suggests retailers should run a July 4th organic ad and continue with organic and conventional ads featuring Rivals and Perfections when they become available July 4th.
“Encouraging consumers to buy organic is important if retailers want to push volumes and elevate sales dollars,” states Shales. “We all know organic is a category that is constantly growing, so taking advantage of these seasonal summer fruits will keep that sales boost going.”
To help merchandise in store, retailers can build displays in high-traffic areas with Artisan Organics™ panta packs. They can also use grower-centric POS featuring the Douglas family to tie the fruit back to the land.
“Our team can offer retailers everything they need to make their displays successful, fun and help move volumes,” states Shales. “We can also offer them plenty of digital and print resources, including toolkits, targeted social media ads, signage, POS and more.”
Stemilt’s Artisan Organics™ apricots, as well as organic peaches and nectarines, are grown in south eastern Washington state by the Douglas Family who have been farming organically for over a decade. This region comes with an arid climate that offers cool nights and sunny days, making it an excellent area to grow organically.
“Between the climate and the Douglas Family’s growing experience, we have an ideal combination for success,” says Shales. “And if retailers are looking to make a mark in their stone fruit category, Artisan Organics™ apricots are the way to do just that.”
Reach out to your Stemilt representative today to learn more about Stemilt’s Artisan Organics™ apricots.
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About Stemilt
Stemilt Growers is a leading tree fruit growing, packing and shipping company based in Wenatchee, Washington. Owned and operated by the Mathison family, Stemilt is the leading shipper of sweet cherries and one of the nation’s largest suppliers of organic tree fruits. Stemilt has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainable agriculture and social responsibility since 1989, when founder Tom Mathison launched the company’s Responsible Choice program. For more information about Stemilt, visit www.stemilt.com and follow Stemilt on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and You Tube.
