The SweeTango® apple crop is projected to be larger than last year’s crop.
“The best-flavored apple is back!” says Kaari Stannard of New York SweeTango sales desk Yes! Apples. Stannard is the board chair of Next Big Thing, A Growers’ Cooperative (NBT), whose 50+ U.S. and Canadian members grow, pack and sell SweeTango.
SweeTango supplies will be up this year as significant new plantings are now bearing fruit. Photo: KCBailey 2020
“The U.S. apple market is crazy, crowded and confusing right now. In such a busy environment, SweeTango hits all the retail sweet spots: great flavor, crucial season kick-off timing, a big fan base and coordinated push-pull marketing,” says Scott Swindeman with SweeTango grower and sales desk Applewood Fresh in Michigan.
“What sets the SweeTango program apart is its comprehensive marketing and sales backing at both the national and regional levels,” said Casey Jarrard with SweeTango sales desk at BelleHarvest Sales in Michigan.
To alert consumers that SweeTangos are back in market while also creating awareness, the brand is buying digital video advertisements geotargeted to SweeTango retailers’ markets. A store locator on the brand’s website helps consumers find retailers near them. The brand will also harness its strong social media presence.
SweeTango growers Michael, Jim and Brandt Swindeman. Photo: Applewood Fresh
SweeTango sales desks will layer on regional marketing activities including Apple of the Month in-store promotions from the West, influencer outreach in the Midwest and from the East, cross-merchandising, e-commerce highlights, sampling, coupons, visibility in a pop-up grocery store and online ordering.
Growers across all regions report fruit flavor and quality is outstanding. Nationally, supplies will be up this year as significant new plantings are now bearing fruit. Swindeman says growers are seeing a good mix of fruit sizes on the trees, meaning shippers will be able to meet all retail needs on both conventional and organic.
Growers across all regions report fruit flavor and quality is outstanding. Photo: Stemilt 2023
“Last year’s crop sold at the fastest clip we’ve ever seen. That left us with a larger than expected gap for SweeTango fans to wait for this year’s crop,” says Dennis MacPherson with SweeTango grower and sales desk Scotian Gold Cooperative Ltd. in Nova Scotia.
U.S. retailers can locate their region’s sales desks here. SweeTango sales in Canada are handled by Scotian Gold and Quebec’s Jean-Yves Boileau et Fils.
For more information:
Julia Stewart
The Fiction Tribe
Tel: +1 (707-727-8808
[email protected]
Jennifer Miller
Next Big Thing
Tel: +1 (856) 716-3428
[email protected]
https://sweetango.com