WENATCHEE, WA - While it may be true that individual farmers do not tend to be household names amongst consumers, these legendary leaders are likened to celebrities in the produce industry. Honoring this level of recognition, Stemilt has reimagined its long-time grab-and-go produce pack to provide retailers with an eco-friendly way to easily display bulk apples and pears. Available this fall, the new paper Farm + Famous pack features a positive message that “All Farmers are Famous,” is 100 percent recyclable, and carries How2Recycle labeling.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to the grocery shopping environment,” said Brianna Shales, Senior Marketing Manager. “Huge increases in online shopping, fewer and faster in-store shopping trips, bigger basket sizes, and sales growth in the produce department as more people cook at home. With all of this in mind, we set out to create a sustainable package to help sell bulk, or random-weight, fruit in a way that is easy for retailers to merchandise and convenient for shoppers to grab and get on their way. The Farm + Famous paper tote checks all the boxes for selling bulk apples and pears in this uncertain environment.”

Each Farm + Famous tote bag will be filled with bulk fruit that has a PLU sticker on it for cashiers to ring-up at the register. The bag holds around 4lbs of fruit and eight bags are packed in a Euro footprint box with a snap-on lid. Unlike traditional tote bags that are filled by produce department staff or by the shopper, the Farm + Famous tote eliminates additional handling and is ready to display and purchase as soon as it is set up on the produce floor.

“This is a huge benefit for retailers because it takes time to build apple displays and keep them full,” said Shales in a press release. “The Euro footprint that holds Farm + Famous tote bags will streamline the ability to move apples from truck to the produce floor, and eventually the shopping basket.”

Stemilt will pack individual varieties of apples, pears, or organics in the Farm + Famous tote bag. Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious are the main apple varieties that Stemilt will pack for the program launch. For pears, Stemilt will start with summer varieties like Bartlett and Starkrimson before moving into winter d’Anjou and Red d’Anjou pears.

“We used a modern yet neutral design for the Farm + Famous tote bag so that it could be used to merchandise bulk apples, pears, or organic versions of these fruits,” continued Shales. “This gives retailers flexibility to bring this item in and out to support promotions in all three categories this fall and winter.”

Apple sales have followed the produce department’s sales increase throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Nielsen retail scan data cited in the release, U.S. apple category performance was up three percent in dollars and six percent in volume in the 12 weeks ending July 25, 2020 when compared to the year prior. Packaged apples were up 12.5 percent for conventional and nearly 30 percent for organic year-over-year, while bulk apple sales were down slightly.

“This data is encouraging and shows that the apple category has great momentum as we head toward peak apple months this fall and winter,” said Shales. “Apples are predominately sold as bulk, but a rise in bags has appeared during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Farm + Famous tote bag is a great solution for retailers because they can sell larger volumes of apples at a per pound price, while also meeting shoppers’ needs for a grab-and-go pack.”

The Farm + Famous tote bag also meets consumer demands for recyclable packaging. It features How2Recycle labeling that informs shoppers how to recycle the 100 percent paper-based package at home. Each bag includes the inspirational message, “All Farmers are Famous,” to tie the fruit back to the land and celebrate food producers.

“Farmers really are famous and deserve the positive attention they’ve received from consumers since the COVID-19 pandemic started,” concluded Shales. “Stemilt’s founding family, the Mathisons, have farmed for a century and for six generations. The new Farm + Famous pack is a great way to show our appreciation for the people who grow our food.”

For more ways on how our industry’s leaders are making their mark, keep checking in with ANUK.

Stemilt