One grower-packer says they joined the “club” because of access to new and exciting varieties, while another signed up with hopes of improving stagnant apple prices. A new trend in apple merchandising promises to do both. Club varieties or franchises, with a centralized marketing organization controlling quantity, quality, and promotion, may someday be standard procedure for the release of new varieties. But for now, many are watching on the sidelines to see if the concept works as planned. “We feel very strongly that we need better apples to present to the market,” said Dave Allan of Allan Brothers, a growing […]