NEW YORK APPLE PROMOTION DELIVERS HEALTH MESSAGE

FISHERS, N.Y. -- The New York Apple Association is reminding consumers and retailers that "an apple a day can keep the doctor away."

eating apples for retailers to use during the 2005-06 apple season. Charts show images of various apples, and highlight different ways to use them. New display wrap and a display contest promoting National Apple Month are available as well.

Also new this year, the association has produced Spanish-English bilingual product variety cards, and a Hispanic apple variety guide, to give retailers a tool for reaching Spanish-speaking shoppers, officials said. The bilingual project is a first for the industry. The apple group also maintains a page in Spanish on its Web site, www.nyapplecountry.com.

The NYAA plans to sponsor in-store demos throughout the country, as it has done in the past. The demos allow retailers to create cross-merchandising opportunities, introduce customers to new varieties and promote the "year-round crunch" of New York-grown apples. Last year, the association sponsored 750 in-store demos, officials said. For retailers, merchandising support will include apple-handling seminars and an employee education video, "Six Steps to Delight Your Customers," which offers instruction on proper handling and display of apples.

Once again, the association sponsored the New York City Marathon this month. The NYAA encouraged Big Apple retailers to promote apples in store circulars during the week leading up to the marathon, officials said.