A Washington State Apple Industry advocate is challenging Apple Computer to live up to its product namesake and utilize its ‘people power’ to help educate them on the importance of eating healthy.
“The success of Apple® can’t be denied but neither can how it has benefited from having a great name,” says Alan Taylor, partner and in charge of marketing at a Washington State company called Apple Branders™.
“The obesity problem especially among children is epidemic. There are a number of people and programs doing what they can to help but it’s still a major people problem. Apple® is one of the few entities with the resources, power and image to make a difference and it’s time for it to step forward.”
Taylor also believes Apple owes its customers this assistance in some ways as a return on their investment in its products.
“While I’m certainly not directly blaming Apple for the obesity problem, it is true that it is a crisis impacting many of those who support its products,” Taylor says. “And the argument could be made that some of them have chosen to spend more time at a computer keyboard rather than being involved in healthy physical activity.”
“We think it’s time to for Apple to sit down with those already taking on the obesity problem, especially as it impacts the youth, and create an action plan. And, yes, it would likely include apples and other healthy profile products.”
Taylor also points out how Apple has benefited to a yet unmeasured degree by having the use of the ‘Apple Name!’
“It would have been interesting to see what the name of the computer giant would be if ‘apple the fruit’ wouldn’t have been in existence,” he says. “Would it have instead selected a computer-related technical term like other companies?”
As Taylor goes on to point out, when Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder was looking to name his new company, he was indeed lucky the name of the ‘apple the fruit’ was available but it didn’t happen by accident either.
In fact, it’s been documented the naming of his company as ‘Apple’ came after Jobs had spent some time meditating in an apple orchard. That this new experience reportedly led to some creative insights? And yes, one was clearly naming his company ‘Apple.’
“With the intellect Jobs was known for, it’s likely safe to assume he also understand the imagery of the apple the fruit and how it would transfer in a highly positive manner to his new computer company,” Taylor says.
"Who wouldn’t want to be totally associated with an already existing product often seen as the universal symbol of health. A healthy image he saw from every direction in that apple orchard. It also fit with his ‘fruitarian diet’ where one week he ate only apples.”
Acknowledging Apple has since become an icon with its name likely contributing to that success, Taylor wants first a closer connection to it.
“We will be waiting for an invitation to discuss how Apple the computer company can help its customers understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle,” Taylor says.
“We think it’s time the management at Apple adds another element to its marketing and that that involves healthy eating and exercise,” Taylor says. “And it certainly wouldn’t be a negative to have the eating part include apples the fruit along with other products known to come with a healthy profile”
In doing so he’s also challenging the current leadership at Apple to join the ‘apple the fruit’ industry to support what Jobs likely saw in the healthy image of the apple.
Contact for Apple and others:
Alan Taylor
Tel: 509-406-3056