BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA - Instead of quietly transitioning into 2021, Okanagan Specialty Fruits^® (OSF) has decided to make a splash with not only the launch of a new lineup of offerings but also the announcement of further releases on the horizon. As if that wasn’t enough cause for excitement, the company has revealed a new video that gives buyers and consumers an exclusive look into the world of Arctic^® apples. Rebecca Catlett, Director of Marketing and Communications for Okanagan, sat down to give me an inside sneak peek at what the future holds for the brand and what buyers can start getting excited about.

“Starting in January 2021, we are introducing a new apple cut that is exclusively available in our 2 oz and 40 oz bags—half-wedges or ‘chunks’ as they have been described,” explains Rebecca. “These bite-sized pieces are a convenient, easy-to-enjoy addition to any meal part. Both Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny varieties are available in this new cut. In 2021, we are also excited to add a red variety to our portfolio. Arctic Fuji apple slices will be making their market debut this fall.”

As someone who knows from experience how difficult it can be to perfectly slice an apple, consumers can rejoice in how much time and energy they are saving with these new products, while the buy-side now has another excellent product to drive value-added sales across the produce aisles. Unlike other apples, Arctic apples are grown specifically for slicing, therefore delivering optimum flavor and a longer shelf-life. That means less shrink and less waste.

To give everyone a behind-the-scenes look at the specialty apple’s progression from farm to table, Okanagan has unveiled a new video that gives a unique overview of the entire process.

“Sometimes it is easy to forget that many consumers may have never visited any type of commercial growing operation and are not aware of where their food comes from. We wanted to give the viewing audience a backstage pass,” Rebecca tells me.

Through this newly released video, the company aims to show the vertically integrated nature of Okanagan, as well as offer transparency and education to both buy-side partners and shoppers to show them why Arctic apples are an excellent choice.

“For both customers and consumers, we want to reinforce the unprecedented nature of Okanagan Specialty Fruits’ vertically integrated organization. OSF is the founder of Arctic apples and maintains responsibility for the entire process: R&D, growing, harvesting, processing, marketing, and sales. This type of organization provides a direct link for customers and consumers to the source,” says Rebecca.

With the market for pre-packaged, value-added produce items hitting a high note due to the ongoing pandemic, Okanagan is using its industry prowess to maximize the change in demand. Together, Arctic apples’ launches come at the perfect time to give consumers delicious, sliced apples to fill their baskets with, and leave buy-side registers ringing.

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Okanagan Specialty Fruits®