09/08/06 National Apple Month

National Apple Month. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. The next time you stop in the fresh produce section of your grocery store you may see some extra marketing push for apples. October is National Apple Month but retailers get on board early according to Kay Rentzel, Director of National Apple Month. RENTZEL: The month was chosen based on the harvest and the abundance of apples at that time and we built our program on the fact that apples are fresh and crisp and good for you. And in doing so it's been the perfect time to promote apples. Retailers and military commissaries actively participate in an apple marketing contest during September, October and November. RENTZEL: The reason we use the 3-month window is because the retail trade said to us about 15 years ago that they didn't want just one month, they wanted a bigger window of time because they had East coast apples, they had West coast apples, they had early season varieties and they had later season varieties and it gives the consumer then, the best of the very best. According to Rentzel, the retailers compete for prizes. RENTLZEL: Cash prizes that they can use any way that they want whether it's for a charity of their choice, or whether they want to incentivise their customers or their employees. So we want them to build displays, communicate health messages all of those things right there in the store so when the consumer comes in they say, apples weren't on my list but that is something I can use in my house this week. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.