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\\u201cApples are the number one fruit in American households. It is a go-to. It\\u2019s something that even if it\\u2019s not on your grocery list, you\\u2019re buying it.\\u201d

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Lori Taylor (23:57-24:07)

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The Produce Moms has proudly co-branded with Applewood Fresh not just because of their 20 incredible varieties of apples, but because of their dedication to sustainability, protecting the environment and educating the consumer produce mom everywhere. Brian Coates has been in the business for over 35 years and has been working with Applewood Fresh for the past three years at the beginning of the farm supply chain journey.

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Brian first got his start working for Meijer on the retail side working as a bagger and pushing carts, eventually moving into the produce department to become a manager. Over time, he\\u2019s bought almost every commodity there is, moving his way up to senior buyer and spending a decade focused on apples. He spent a couple of years as Director of Procurement for a Wholesale distributor in Michigan. This led him to the sales side of business with Applewood, first as a consultant and then to VP of Sales and Business Development, proudly supporting this third-generation owned business in their efforts to provide consumers fresh and new apple varieties.

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How is Applewood Fresh supporting sustainability in America? Because the family owned orchards are in Michigan with growers around the state, their apples primarily travel through Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas. This cuts down on pollution from shipping with less food miles and is cost effective because of how expensive the cost of freight is right now.

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\\u201cWe do a lot of things from the grower, to the packhouse, to shipping for sustainability efforts through recycling, composting, reducing and eliminating fertilizers, integrating pest management, and using trickle irrigation which is much better for cutting down water usage.\\u201d Brian Coates (8:24-9:00)

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Applewood Fresh also uses solar power on top of their packing facilities and eco-friendly packaging. Out of all the apple brands The Produce Moms works with, Applewood Fresh has the broadest profile in managed varieties aka branded apples in the state of Michigan. What kind of apples are we talking about? These are apples that have been bred through natural, cross-pollination methods through a deliberate effort from apple breeders who are taking key characteristics of different apple varieties that have exactly what both farmers and consumers want.

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As Lori Taylor says, \\u201can apple that is difficult for the farmer to grow is an apple that is inaccessible for the consumer. It can taste amazing, but if it\\u2019s difficult to thrive on the farm, we\\u2019re not going to be able to put it on the trucks and we\\u2019re not going to be able to sell it at a price point that\\u2019s sustainable.\\u201d

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Managed brands have extra marketing efforts behind them, have branded names, and have growers from multiple regions committed to farming that apple under the brand name, using the specific growing standards of each of the different varieties. It takes a lot of work from the growers that are willing to help and go through the trials to figure out what varieties are standing out in the different growing reasons

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If you\\u2019re from the midwest, you grew up going to apple orchards and drinking cider in fall until winter. After that, apples aren\\u2019t as much of a top-of-mind purchase, but thanks to the emerging varieties, different kinds of apples are being harvested later and some even have a flavor profile that\\u2019s much better after months of storing! This time of year is a great opportunity for consumers to try something different, like Applefresh\\u2019s Kiku apple, which is one of the sweetest and juiciest apples around, or the Evercrisp or Kanzi.

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\\u201cOne of the things with COVID that you\\u2019ve seen change is that more and more consumers are looking for something they can get in and out of the store quickly, and that\\u2019s maybe in a bag that they feel more comfortable with safety-wise.\\u201d Brian Coates (24:59-25:16)

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COVID has certainly changed things across the board for consumers, retailers, farmers and growers. Grocery stores have been dealing with labor and operation issues, and consumers want quick, easy, and safe options, which is why we\\u2019ve seen a shift in how apples are being sold. More and more retailers are offering apples in three or five pound bags rather than stacking individual apples on the shelf. There\\u2019s also a big focus in retail right now to convey to the consumer what the flavor profile is of these new varieties and where the product comes from.\\xa0

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There\\u2019s so many brilliant ways to enjoy apples and, aside from eating them as-is, Brian loves eating apples with wine and cheese. His daughter is a budding charcuterie connoisseur, so she\\u2019s also started to include apples with her meats. A great apple pie is something Brian can\\u2019t say no to and he encourages everyone to try some of the new, great flavors available with Applewood Fresh\\u2019s varieties! If you see the Applewood Fresh and The Produce Mom\\u2019s logo at your local retailer, know this is a great brand to support if you\\u2019re focused on sustainability, and enjoying what\\u2019s healthy for the environment and your family!

How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!\\xa0
• Reach out to us - we\\u2019d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.\\xa0

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