Five Ways to Market Your Apples

If your apple trees are loaded with fruit this fall, it's time to think about the most profitable ways for you to sell them. Your options will vary, depending on the competition and marketing opportunities in your local area, the appearance of your apples, and you willingness to use your interpersonal and/or computer skills to direct-market your apples.

Here are some ways to turn your apples into cash:

Wholesale them to Processors. Many regions have apple growing processors (such as Motts, Treetop, etc.) that purchase much of that region's apple crop.

According to Mott's website, they use over a billion apples per year, and buy 30% of New York state's apple crop and 10% of Pennsyvania's. So, if you live in a region where there is an apple processor, you can look into selling some or all of your crop to them: the prices will be low, often between 10 and 20 cents per pound, and they only buy by the ton.

This is a good way to market blemished apples, and a way to get some money for your crop if you don't have the inclination to direct market it. Your state's apple association will be able to put you in touch with apple processors who may want to buy your crop.

Make Cider, Apple Butter and Other Value-Added Products. If you don't want to sell to a processor, you can become your own by creating value-added products such as baked goods, cider, apple butter or fruit leathers. Just make sure to follow you state and local regulations regarding food processing and get any inspections and certifications that you need to allow you to legally sell your products.

Once you have developed a saleable product, you can market it yourself or wholesale it to local farm stands, grocery stores or specialty shops.

Sell Them at Farmer's Markets and Festivals. If you have some beautiful, relatively blemish-free apples, consider selling them as "eating" apples at your local farmer's market or local festivals. In these settings, the appearance of your apples will sell them: Unfortunately, even wholesome, good-tasting apples that are blemished or misshapen don't tend to sell very well, even to consumers who are looking for "sustainable" or organic apples.

U-Pick. If you think that you can handle (or might even enjoy!) having throngs of customers at your farm every weekend this fall, U-Pick just might be for you. In order to sell your apples this way, you will need to consider things that you wouldn't otherwise have to such as parking and restroom facilities for visitors and additional liability insurance for you farm.

However, having a U-pick orchard can be a great way to get customers onto your farm, and sell lots of apples, apple-related merchandise and other types of produce and merchandise. Keep in mind that running a U-pick orchard is not going to save you any money on labor!

Mail Order Gift Boxes and Baskets. Your "prettiest" apples can be packed snugly into shipping trays, put into a decorative cardboard box and shipped just about anywhere in the US and sold for about $1.00 each, not including shipping. Boxes can contain a single variety of apple, or an assortment of varieties. Organic and "antique" apples command a premium price, and can be sold in specialty gift boxes.

Gift baskets can combine your apples with wine, cheese, maple syrup, nuts, jellies, baking mixes or any other products you can think of. Add products that are local specialties to your baskets in order to give them a unique flair.

Your gift box and basket business will benefit greatly from having a Web site with clear product descriptions, photos and pricing as well as secure online ordering.

In fact, the Internet can help you sell your apples no matter how you decide to market them, but if you're not computer savvy, a smile and a good handshake can help you too. Best of all, since apples are so delicious, they will help you to sell themselves!