WENATCHEE, WA - Apples are apparently a crowd favorite among the United States' youngest generation, and Stemilt Growers’ Lil Snappers® kid-sized apples are helping to make that happen.

The journal Pediatrics conducted a study incorporating more than 3,000 responses to the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, according to a Stemilt press release. With it, research showed that apples account for almost 19% of fruit intake among ages 2 to 19.

“It’s great to see today’s children eating more servings of fruit, and apples in particular,” said Stemilt Marketing Director Roger Pepperl. “Apples are a great source of fiber and nutrients, and an ideal portable snack for children.”

The research also found that juices accounted for 34%, but whole fruits, like Stemilt’s Lil Snappers® kid-sized apples, accounted for 53% of fruit intake.

“These research findings support our recommendation to prominently display apples in produce departments throughout the fall and winter months,” Pepperl added. “They also support the merchandising tactic of using kid-specific products like Lil Snappers® in order to market apples to parents and their kids.”

As we previously reported, Washington experienced excessively warm temperatures that slowed apple sizing, resulting in larger volumes of smaller apples.

“Lil Snappers® apples have a lot of growth potential at retail this year, as we have a high-quality crop and the right variety mix. The coming months are ideal for retailers to bring Lil Snappers® apples in and sell them out. This great kids brand is an easy way to promote flavor, quality, and kids’ favorite fruit while giving your apple category a boost,” Pepperl said in the release.

Stemilt launched its Lil Snappers® line in 2011, with the idea to encourage children’s fruit consumption with premium quality, small-sized fruit in convenient three pound bags. After its initial success, the company expanded the line to include its pears and Sunkist® citrus, as well as jointly marketed variety bags by Sunkist and Stemilt of both apples and citrus.

“Lil Snappers® work because they directly market to the intended user, and fulfill the need parents have to provide their kids with a healthy snack in a size that fits what kids can and will actually eat,” Pepperl added. “With around 10 apples per three pound bag, a Lil Snappers® apple can be packed into two school lunches every day for a week.”

The grower recently finished its Honeycrisp apple harvest, which Nielsen Perishables retail scan data showed was the leading variety last year to drive apple growth, and is still harvesting its signature Piñata® apples. “Given the smaller fruit size this year, retailers have a great opportunity to promote new flavors of apples directly to kids through Lil Snappers® pouch bags. Promoting specialty varieties like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady® and Piñata® in Lil Snappers® pouch bags is a great way to encourage trial and repeat purchases.”

Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow as we continue to bring you the latest apple marketing and product information.

Stemilt Growers