The Beginning

Once the Sage apple tree is planted in the orchard, the grower must wait 4 years before he can harvest the fruit from these trees.

Orchard

Apple trees begin to bloom in April. This is a very important time for the grower. Weather must be ideal for the pollinating bees to be active and do their jobs well. A variety of growing practices are executed by the grower to ensure that his fruit will be desirable to the market.

Harvest

Pickers must use care when picking the apples off the tree in order to avoid bruising the apple. They must also be cautious when placing apples into field bins to avoid bruising.

Transportation

The truck driver must use caution when transporting apples out of the field. Bumpy fields+ reckless driving= bruised apples! Storage. Field Specialists then determine how to store each apple. To do this, the Field Specialist must take into account when certain varieties and sizes are desirable to the market at different times throughout the year.

Packing Line

All varieties need different care while being packaged. A Red Delicious, for example, can be packaged at a quicker rate than a Golden Delicious. The thick skin of a Red Delicious apple keeps it from bruising easily. The light color of a Golden Delicious allows the apple to be bruised more easily. A Golden Delicious apple will be packed at a much slower rate than a Red Delicious.

Transportation

Once an order is placed for a delicious Sage apple, it is time to hit the road. Loading apples onto and off of a truck is a very important time in the handling of an apple. Using a gentle touch will ensure the apples within the box will not get bruised. The truck driver must also be aware that gentle driving practices are in the best interest of apples on board. Sharp turns and quick stops may damage our friendly fruit.

Distribution Center

Usually, apples are unloaded at the distribution centers in order to be placed on trucks going to each individual grocery store.

Grocery Store

Once the Sage apple makes it to the grocery store, it’s time to shine! The Sage apple will be placed out in the Produce Department for the hungry and healthy consumer to pick out and take home.

Final Destination

Consumer refrigerates their Sage apple until they are ready to eat it as a healthy snack, or part of a meal. Check out our recipes page for fun and interesting ways to eat Sage Apples!

Fun Facts:

• Because pears ripen from the inside out, the best way to check for ripeness is to "check the neck."
• It takes the energy from 50 leaves to produce one apple.