At this year’s Global Produce & Floral Show, CMI Orchards will unveil a new, refreshed look for KIKU® brand apples. This look will be implemented across all boxes and bags, with artwork delivering emphasis on the unique flavor attributes and sweetness of the apple.
KIKU's new look will be implemented across all boxes and bags.
Rochelle Bohm, vice president of marketing, says the design pays homage to the apple’s origin and its uniqueness. These include the mountain illustration representing the Italian Alps where the apple was propagated—as well as the Enchantments of the Wenatchee Valley--and the chrysanthemum blossoms representing the Japanese meaning of the apple’s name, as well as bees for the importance they play in pollinating apple trees, says Bohm.
Bohm says several highlighted words and phrases that accentuate the qualities of KIKU brand apples. These terms associated with KIKU's new design include “crisp & juicy”, “vitality”, “power your day”, “taste the sweetness”, “sugar” and “flavor burst”. The global brand embraces a dynamic ethos by promoting extreme sports athletes. “The marketing approach for KIKU varies slightly in the USA,” says Bohm. “While it is a low-calorie, low-carb, fat-free treat ideal for fueling a hyper-active lifestyle, the apple has garnered wide appeal among everyday consumers seeking sweet, healthy and tasty options to energize their everyday life.”
Left to right: Rochelle Bohm, Loren Foss
She adds that the apple is the choice for sweet apple aficionados looking for a superior Fuji experience. With its Brix levels (the standard for measuring sugar content), KIKU is one of the sweetest apples available in the market today.
KIKU brand apples are grown in Washington State by CMI Orchards and are sub-licensed to Rice Fruit Company in Pennsylvania and Applewood Orchards in Michigan, with both conventional and organic options available. Loren Foss, sales manager at CMI, says it’s had exceptional growing weather with warm days, cool nights and very little wildfire smoke, producing a vintage crop. “Thanks to the weather, we’ll double our organic KIKU volume over last season and see 50 percent growth in our conventional crop,” says Foss. “We’re also tracking about 10-14 days ahead of last year in terms of harvest timing. We expect to get the full crop off the tree this year with plenty of time to pick all varieties at optimal timing, which should give us an excellent finish, producing fantastic eating fruit.”
KIKU is not a variety name, but an international registered trademark.
For more information:
Ashlyn Lewis
CMI Orchards, LLC
Tel: +1 (509) 888-3434 (office) ext. 112
[email protected]
www.cmiorchards.com
