CHELAN, WA - The best way to intrigue and entice the consumer cart this back-to-school season is by giving parents a solution that meets their needs at the intersection of health, flavor, texture, and convenience. In the fresh fruit category, Chelan Fresh achieves this at its pinnacle with an apple program to rival.

“Rockit™ apples are the perfect back-to-school snack for kids that love a crisp, crunchy apple with a sweet, playful flavor and for the parents that want to offer their little ones a nutritious treat that satisfies value and convenience,” Mac Riggan, Director of Marketing, shares with me. “We also bring retailers back-to-school packaging solutions that draw the eye and offer differentiation at their apple destinations. Placing Rockit apple shuttle packs in high-traffic areas at the front of the store and the entrance to the produce aisle makes for a great ambassador to healthy and delicious eating.”

In addition, the back-to-school shuttle pack wrap presents a school-bus yellow graphic that is as pleasing to the eye as the apple is to the miniature-apple-sized hand and tummy.

As retailers continue to evolve their own messaging about health and sustainability, customers can rely on Chelan Fresh to support such a vision with innovation, flavor, recyclable packaging (80 percent recyclable), and consumer engagement.

From halftime breaks during soccer and on the road between destinations to snacks at school or home—Rockit apples are the perfect item for kids and parents that give them a nice, even sugar bump while satiating the palate.

“These apples price anywhere from $6.99 to $9.99 for a 3 lb shuttle—about 18–21 apples—and we sold out earlier this year 450,000 cases,” Mac details. “So, it was an amazing sign of things to come and a great ring for retailers. The feedback we get from consumers is that they are willing to travel miles and miles for Rockit apples—even across cities or counties.”

Rockit apples have a crowd appeal that has been incredibly successful across multiple retail chains from higher-end retailers to value formats. In other words, Rockit does not just have an audience, but multiple demographics of fans and apple lovers. And the quality is looking amazing to boot.

As Mac reminds me, the apples are coming off of mature trees—trees that have been planted for at least four years, making them an incredibly consistent apple. The ability to enter that snack category as a fresh fruit item is invaluable and having the consistency of a manufactured food item makes them a powerful sales tool and loyalty driver.

“We can currently ship to customers nationwide in the U.S., so anybody anywhere that wants it can call us for it!” Mac wraps up.

While “back-to-school” may mean different things to different people, from in-person to Zoom and everywhere in between, retailers can be sure that Rockit apples mean three things, consistently: increased sales, stewardship, and the promise of excellence—all wrapped up in one sweet treat.

Chelan Fresh