Added Value Products in the Pink!

Added Value Products in the Pink! I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

When is an apple more than just an apple? Alan Taylor with Pink Lady America says it’s when it’s a value added apple.

TAYLOR: The value added product here is one we are also excited about because Pink Lady®, while it’s a grower friendly apple and a large majority of it does go to the fresh market, there are always apples that goes to processing and Pink Lady® has done very, very well in the juice area and the slice area, starting to really roll as well.

Of course having the additional apples to generate value added products is key.

TAYLOR: The early Pink Lady® has pretty much been harvested which started the first week of October which is always exciting now for us because we’re able to get some volume out on the market with the new apple which is ready to eat right off the tree. The original Pink Lady® will probably be starting in harvesting in about a week now.

The total crop is expected over four-million boxes. That compares to the two-million boxes only three years ago and helps that value-added market.

TAYLOR: Value added products are excellent for the grower because it uses those apples that don’t go to the fresh market and when you are building a brand it puts that brand out in other areas around the store, usually in the center - what they call center store and that just adds to equity in the brand and therefore it’s value and that’s always good for the grower.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.