Opal apples is experiencing a record-breaking fifth season, reaching new highs in volume as well as the number of consumers reached. Opal made its first appearance this season in November and is expected to run through April.
Opal achieved a high record in weekly volume after delivering over 1 million pounds of fresh Opals to retailers across the United States and Canada in the seven-day shipping period ending March 8. Season-to-date, the average weekly volume is running 28 percent higher compared to last season. Also, the number of retailers in the Opal program has reached record highs with 85 percent of the top retailers in the U.S. and Canada carrying Opals for their consumers. In addition, Opal has seen a jump in consumer reach after executing a robust marketing campaign reaching over 1.1 million people.
“We’re having a great Opal season with tremendous momentum,” Keith Mathews, chief executive officer of FirstFruits Marketing of Washington, said in a press release. “Consumers are telling us how much they love the apple, retailers are having great pull-throughs and consequently, we’re experiencing record shipments. We’re so honored to have solid retail relationships to help us sell through nearly 1 million pounds of Opals in one week. Without their support, we could not get Opals to consumers.”
Grown in Washington by Broetje Orchards, Opal apples are sold exclusively in North America by FirstFruits Marketing. The company said this cross between Topaz and Golden Delicious stands out on the shelf with its yellow color and great taste. While Opal is non-GMO it does naturally resists browning after slicing.