CHELAN, WA - “An apple is not always just an apple.” As we prepare for the exhilarating Global Produce & Floral Show, these wise words from Julie DeJarnatt remain at the forefront of my mind. As the grower takes to this year’s show, Chelan Fresh will be showcasing a full manifest of Joyfully Grown™ conventional and organic apples and pears while shining a spotlight on unique, high-demand varieties like SugarBee®, Rockit™, and Lucy™ apples.

“With the abundance of choice the fresh apple industry is offering today, it can be hard for both buyers and consumers to differentiate across the wide array of varieties being offered,” Julie, Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy, shared with me ahead of the show. “Every marketing agency tends to use the same terminology attempting to ‘out-crisp’ or ‘out-sweet’ their competition. If we take just a moment to slow down, close our eyes, and take a breath—allowing all of our senses to be engaged—you just might be surprised by what you find. To help inspire that experience, we have invited Nutrition Expert Annessa Chumbley, RD, to join our Chelan Fresh booth to lead a workshop on engaging your senses to bring forward the unique flavor and experiential attributes of a few truly distinctive apples.”

Chumbley will lead the audience to experience the fresh aroma and distinctive flavor notes of SugarBee apples while also highlighting the brain-tingling dopamine rush you get when catching a glimpse of the vibrant pink interior of a Lucy Glo apple or incorporating Rockit apples into a naturally healthy and active lifestyle.

Backing the strength of this flavor-forward portfolio, Chelan Fresh has been hard at work over the past few years, balancing its manifest to offer surety of supply on the core drivers of the business and growing in the areas of greatest consumer demand.

“We don’t strive to offer the widest assortment of varieties, but instead focus on ensuring the fruit we offer is of the absolute highest quality and consistent eating experience,” Julie assures. “The consumer demand we are seeing on our premium SugarBee and miniature Rockit apples did not happen by chance. From the moment we saw the potential of these two varieties in our test orchards, every development and marketing step has been one of precision.”

Also guiding its growth is the company’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, which will soon be highlighted in Chelan Fresh’s second annual Sustainability and Social Responsibility Report.

“We are excited to update stakeholders and consumers on our ongoing commitment to Nurturing, Honoring, and Protecting Our Food, Our Planet, and Our People,” Julie concluded.

Don’t miss out on the high-quality collection of apples and pears waiting for you at booth C1965 during the event! For more trade show updates, keep clicking back to ANUK.