WENATCHEE, WA - With its brand new Greefa electronic apple sorting and packing line, and fresh room openings weekly, Stemilt Growers is actively kicking off a robust 2015 summer apple program.

Brianna Shales, Communications Manager for Stemilt Growers, joined me to discuss all that the company has in the works for apples in the coming season.

"During the summer months of June through August, apples contribute an impressive 4.6 percent of total produce department sales on average in the U.S.," Brianna tells me. "So it's a really important time for retailers to highlight apples."

To hear my entire interview with Brianna, you can listen to the audio above.

The company also noted in a press release the advantages of its new Greefa electronic sorting and packing line for apples.

“Our new line is the length of a football field, and designed to gently size and sort apples with the use of optic sizing and defect sorting,” Roger Pepperl, Stemilt’s Marketing Director, said in the release. “It looks at the internal and external qualities of every apple through the use of high-definition cameras and computer software analyzes the photos to size and grade apples. The modern technology helps us deliver great flexibility to our customers and consistency in every pack.”

Sorting quality apples efficiently has given Stemilt the ability to reserve the best for its summer program. According to Pepperl, these apples are “the best of the best,” and fresh room are being opened on a weekly basis to keep them in a long-term controlled atmosphere. The apples for Stemilt’s summer program are being packed on its state-of-the-art commit-to-pack line. Having made its debut last September, this line features one of the longest sizers in the world.

“The addition of the new Greefa line joins our team’s commitment and heavy emphasis on managing our inventory through planning in order to realize tight inventory turns on all varieties,” West Mathison, President of Stemilt, said in the release. “We work to continue to provide good service and availability to our customers, while maximizing fruit freshness because that’s what drives a great consumer experience and repeat apple purchases.”

Now that Stemilt has just wrapped up what Pepperl said was a great season for the company’s signature apple variety, Pinata®, the company will now offer a well-rounded program featuring all the latest bi-colored varieties including Pink Lady®, Gala, and Fuji.

Pink Lady® apples are the latest variety to harvest in Washington State. Stemilt is a long-time shipper of this popularly tart variety, and will be packing them throughout the summer. The company especially noted that this crop is showing some of the best sizing, color, and qualities seen in years.

As for Gala apples, these fruits are what Pepperl noted are ideal for retailers due to the range in size, the fact that it is the company’s longest storing fresh fruit, and, of course, healthy demand, making it one of the leading apple varieties in produce departments, according to the press release.

Also coming out weekly from Stemilt’s fresh C.A. rooms now and all summer long is the high-flavored, high-colored Fuji strain Aztec. A favorite variety for consumers, the company added that this year’s crop has yielded premium sizes and flavor quality that will stand out in summer apple retail displays.

Summing up a varietal summer program, the company will also offer Golden Delicious and Red Delicious apples to give retailers the components to keep the category trending up.

“Jumbo Red Delicious offer one unique promotion vehicle during the summer to drive interest and sales of the great quality of all summer apples available,” Pepperl said.

He also noted that the constant changes and improvements in genetics continue to improve the qualities and flavors of apples, commenting that Stemilt has stayed on the forefront of investing in both new varieties as well as modern strains of existing varieties.