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Vintage Apples When the "delicious duo" ruled displays

Fifty years ago, golden delicious apples were to the apple category what club varieties are today: heavily advertised, and a go-getter for retailers looking to differentiate.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Washington Apple Commission promoted Golden Delicious heavily, in The Packer's Ideas in Merchandising, a precursor to Produce Retailer.

How many of these varieties still garner shelf space in your store?

This variety chart shows you just how far we've come in the apple category.

Holidays were an important promotion time for apples, especially Christmas and "gifting" season, with in-house gift baskets.

This 1965 study promoted health benefits of eating apples.

And the American Dental Association promoted apples for dental health.

In the ads and information from Ideas in Merchandising, the promotion of Controlled Atmosphere storage was a relatively new concept. Helping consumers pick and store apples also was a hot topic. Bagged and tray packed apples also were a new to consumers.

Here's some ad and merchandising inspiration.

Speaking of ads, the National Apple Week Association held an annual "Ad Man of the Year" contest for the best apple ad among retailers. In 1967, that "man" was a woman.

Ms. Jeanne Petti of The Foodmart of Corning, N.Y., received a "handsome five-piece sterling silver coffee service" for her superb effort."

This was her winning ad: "APPLE-tizing APPLE-tizers for everybody's APPLE-tites"

Produce met floral for an innovative display by Acme Markets Inc.'s 1968 Spring Flower Show in Philadelphia. Bill Gettz, director of purchasing for fresh fruits and vegetables was The Packer's Merchandising Man of the Year, and oversaw the display.

Acme Markets Inc., as published in Ideas in Merchandising

Here's Rob Sproat, produce manager of the week in July 1970 assisting a customer at Albertsons in Boise, Idaho.

Display contests also were popular.

As were some "interesting" recipes.

We hope you enjoyed this look back at vintage apples.

Created By
Pamela Riemenschneider
Appreciate

Credits:

Photos from The Packer's Ideas in Merchandising

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