FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2008
www.stemilt.com
Contact: Roger Pepperl
Marketing Director
PINATA hits the market with Sesame Street and Elmo
WENATCHEE, Wash.—For the first time ever Stemilt Growers’ exclusive apple variety, PIÑATA!® , hit the market featuring the colorful faces of Sesame Street’s Elmo and Abby Cadabby.
Stemilt has the exclusive rights in controlling the growing, packing and marketing of this apple variety, which is available from November to mid-April each year. According to marketing director Roger Pepperl, the PINATA does remarkably well in storage which increases both the quality of the fruit and the length of time it is available in stores.
Entering its third year on the market, PINATA has quickly gained the attention of retailers and consumers alike with a sweet-tart flavor that creates “a surprise for your taste buds.” This year PINATA also features innovative packaging with always recognizable Sesame Street characters.
“The entire PINATA unistack display box has been gaining huge momentum among retailers,” said Pepperl. “It is designed to go through their distribution channels smoothly, is easy to set up, and bright and attractive to catch the attention of shoppers.”
PINATA unistack display box by Stemilt Growers
Produce managers and staff simply remove the carton lid to create a base for the display, and then place two euro footprint boxes packed with PINATA apples atop the base, making a three-tiered display.
On the exterior of the box, Elmo and Abby Cadabby promote the delicious fruit to families. The beloved furry characters and catchphrase “tastes like a party of flavor in your mouth” help get kids and parents excited about eating PINATA apples, Pepperl said.
The PINATA unistack display box received a Produce Marketing Association Impact Award in October 2007 for it’s merchandising design and logistical flexibility.
Stemilt teamed up with Sesame Workshop®, the creators of Sesame Street, to encourage children and their families to eat healthy fruits like PINATA apples. Sesame’s Healthy Habits for Life® program, which began in 2004, promotes health, nutrition, physical activity, and education to preschoolers and their caregivers.
“We are thrilled to continue working with tremendous and long-term partners like Stemilt to promote fresh fruit consumption,” said Maura Regan, Sesame Workshop’s Vice President and General Manager of Global Licensing. “The child friendly packaging, featuring Abby for the very first time, makes eating healthy fun.”
PINATA is a cross between Golden Delicious, Cox’s Orange Pippin and the Duchess of Oldenburg varieties. It was bred in Germany and has won out in several taste tests against other varietal apples. Stemilt is also currently shipping organic PINATA apples through the Artisan Organics label, Pepperl said.