Columbine Vineyard’s Anthony Stetson and Lauren Olcott Talk Proprietary Grape Line
DELANO, CA - With a season of ideal growing conditions in Delano and Arvin, it's hard not to get excited about Columbine Vineyard’s current table grape harvest. Having had wrapped up its harvest of Flames and Sugraone this past July, the company is now looking on to thompson, majestic, and summer royals with excellent quality.
“We’ve been seeing both good bunch size and good volume. Growing conditions have been ideal,” Sales Manager Anthony Stetson explains to me. “Due to heavier rains and good snow pack this winter, we are in an excellent situation in regard to water. Weather has been favorable for growing in the spring, with some higher temperatures in June that have helped with grape maturity.”
Next, the company says it's looking towards its proprietary varieties, like its Holiday® and Milano®. Holiday® grapes are available late September through mid-December, while Milano® runs from early September to mid-October.
Including its proprietary offerings, Columbine Vineyards grows more than 18 varieties of table grapes, available from July through December. The company is excellent at providing informational and colorful POS and POP materials to give retailers the tools they need to best utilize grape promotion opportunities.
“We currently offer POS material that focuses on our legacy of quality and tradition of our 4th generation family owned and operated farm,” added Lauren Olcott, Marketing Representative for Columbine. “Along with POS material specifically designed for Holiday®. CoVi℠ is also marketing our Petite Bags and Recipes Cards to retailers!”
Columbine’s petite bag that Lauren mentions allows for a different option from the standard grape bag size for retailers and consumers alike. It helps fill the niche for retailers that want higher FOB varieties while still having reduced the cost per bag for the consumer.
“Retailers like the smaller bag due to a lower ring at the register per bag and consumers love the convenience of a smaller portion to snack on,” Anthony explains. “Across the board, we have received wonderful comments and positive feedback regarding our new packaging.”
Want to learn more about Columbine Vineyards, including its innovative CoVivore recipe campaign? Check out all there is to see on www.ColumbineVineyards.com.
