By Malinda Geisler, content specialist, AgMRC, Iowa State University.

Revised March 2008.
 

Overview

An affordable method to market new products directly to consumers is for orchards to establish their own Web sites. With widespread sales of home computers, an estimated 60 percent of the U.S. population has Internet access. Total e-commerce sales during 2006 were estimated at $108.7 billion, an increase of 23.5 percent from 2005. Total e-commerce sales accounted for 2.8 percent of total sales.


Sources 

• Fresh Market Apples, Economic Research Service, USDA, 2005 - This report reviews fresh apple markets in the United States.
• World Apple Situation, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, 2007 - This series of graphs provides an overview of the U.S. apple industry.

Marketing

• Fruits and Tree Nuts, Briefing Room, ERS, USDA - This government portal provides general information and statistics on the U.S. fruits and nut tree industries.
• Farmers Market and Direct-to-Consumer Marketing Publications, Ag Marketing Service, USDA.
• North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association - A networking association for farm direct marketing and agritourism.

Processing/Manufacturing

• Postharvest Information Network, Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Washington State University - This site provides information by variety as well as subject, including quality, marketing, organic and storage.

Production

• PlantFacts, Ohio State University - This Web site provides a full-text search engine of all extension and academic department information from all land-grant universities in the United States. Additionally, there are significant image and video databases, a FAQ database and a glossary.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Apple Acres Farm, located at South Hiram, Maine, is owned and operated by the Johnson family. The farm markets several products from its gift store, including old-fashioned boiled cider syrup. The online store sells assortment apple packages, syrup and baking mixes.
• Apples OnLine - The Valicoff Fruit Company, a family-owned wholesaling company in Washington State’s Yakima Valley, opened its online store in 1998. It offers seven varieties of apples year-round and peaches, pears, nectarines and apricots in season.
• Fruit From Washington.com - The Eberhart family apple orchard was launched in 1969. It has grown to more than 300 acres of apples and pears in Ellensburg, Washington. An Internet business markets Washington State fruit gift boxes. Subscriptions for three, six or 12 months of apples are also available.  
• Linvilla Orchards of Media, Pennsylvania, markets premium fruit baskets and boxes online year-round. The Linvilla family also sells other fruits, vegetables, baked goods and gifts from its 100-year-old octagonal barn.
• Wright's Apple Farm of Gardiner, New York, ships apples and homemade jams and jellies all over the United States and Europe. The fifth-generation farm also offers pick-your-own apples, a fruit stand and bakery.

Links checked February 2008.