GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – Greetings from the heart of Fruit Ridge, Michigan’s apple country. The Riveridge family of growers is very excited about our 2013 harvest!
Apple availability. Riveridge has been shipping for two weeks, and will soon hit peak volumes for early-harvest apples. After 10 days of made-to-order beautiful summer days, Michigan’s conditions are now transitioning to typical late-summer weather: Sunny days and cool nights. This combination leads to outstanding color development in Michigan apples, as well as a flavor profile that we think is unmatched in the U.S. Varieties now available (or soon to be picked) are:
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Paula Red
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Gingergold
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Golden Supreme
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Gala
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McIntosh
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Jonamac
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Honeycrisp (week of Sept. 16th)
Our complete 2013 harvest schedule is here.
Honeycrisp quality protocol implemented. Many of your shoppers are eagerly awaiting harvest of the Michigan Honeycrisp. This Northern-bred apple reaches peak flavor and quality when grown in the cool Midwest. Riveridge is Michigan’s volume leader for Honeycrisp apples, and we’ve implemented a new 10-point Honeycrisp protocol at all of our packing houses. This quality control measure promises a superior eating experience for consumers hooked on Honeycrisp. We have to brag a bit by saying that Riveridge has the highest percentage of Honeycrisp moving through state-of-the-art external/internal defect sorting technology of any apple packer in the Eastern U.S. This technology detects and discards bitter pit and internal browning, two quality issues associated with Honeycrisp. Additional items in Riveridge’s Honeycrisp protocol address orchard, storage and packing practices. Orchard practices include sun protection and calcium supplement guidelines, and multi-pass and stem-clipping harvest practices. Riveridge has also established strict maturity protocols for harvest timing and storage to ensure apples are fully sweet and ripe when they arrive at retail. Best practices in storage include specific conditioning techniques, as well as the latest research from Michigan State University and other leaders in fruit physiology and storage.
Come visit. If you’d like to learn more about Riveridge and Michigan apple production, contact our sales office to inquire about a tour of the orchards, storage and packing facilities. We’re proud to show off our high-quality operations from farm to fork. Seeing our farm story firsthand lets you share it with shoppers who are eager to know where their produce is grown.
Merchandising tip: Begin a “Countdown to Michigan Honeycrisp” in produce departments. (Then place your order!) By creating a simple sign that counts down the days until you expect to have Michigan Honeycrisp, shoppers will know that you plan to stock this super-star Northern apple. With Riveridge’s discriminating sugar and ripeness standards, you can be sure Riveridge Honeycrisp apples will be a premium eating experience. Visit the Michigan Apple Committee for free Honeycrisp signage, as well as recipe cards and signs for most other Michigan apple varieties.
Quick take:
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Catch Riveridge ads with a focus on our experience advantage in Produce Business, Produce News and The Packer. Current ads feature fieldman Rick Zemaitis, sales reps Dawn and Rog Geers, and plant manager Jamie Kober.
Tweetin’ out the latest. For quick updates and photos of Michigan’s comeback apple crop, follow Riveridge Produce on Twitter.
Sincerely,
Dawn Geers Rog Geers Brian Johnson
Melissa Dubridge Russell Comport Don Armock
Denise Donohue
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