About Us
Fresh Ideas. Deep Roots.
Part of the FirstFruits family of brands, Applewood Fresh is proud to get fresh, juicy Michigan-grown apples in the hands of customers from coast to coast throughout the year.
How do we do it?
It all starts with passionate growers and optimal growing conditions. Ultra-modern packing facilities guarantee gentle handling and excellent storage. An efficient supply chain and best-in-class partnership help us shave miles and time off of transit, ensuring apples arrive in stores fresh as the day they were picked.
It all adds up to apples that deliver premium quality, safety, flavor, and crunch. Take a bite and taste for yourself!
Passionate Growers
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Applewood Fresh apples are grown by families, not factories — nurtured in community, crafted with care, and driven by bold ideas that move the produce world forward. We are built on generations of experience and passion. Just as the concentric rings of a tree tell the history of its existence, Applewood’s story of growth is told in rings of integrity and value.
Our Packing Partners
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We are proud to align with passionate Michigan apple packers and growers who are experts in the field and in apple supply systems. Ultra-modern packing facilities, attention to detail, and the will to continuously improve, allow us to keep expanding what’s possible, for both freshness and flavor.
- Applewood Orchards, Inc. [Deerfield, MI]
- Elite Apple Co. [Sparta, MI]
- Michigan Apple Packers Cooperative, Inc. [Sparta, MI]
- Umlor Orchards, Inc. [Conklin, MI]
- New Era’s American Apple, LLC [New Era, MI]
About Our Parent Brand, FirstFruits
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FirstFruits unites growers, packers, and shippers of apples, cherries, and pears from coast to coast. Its mission is to bridge North America’s diverse growing regions, ensuring a reliable supply to customers across the globe. With numerous varieties of fruit from diverse regions and a commitment to meeting the highest standards of quality, reliability, and consumer expectations, it is poised to become the North American leader in premium fruit production and distribution.
Committed to Quality at Every Step
From orchards to final pack, we’re dedicated to exceeding the standards you expect. Our operation is built on systems designed to ensure consistency, efficiency, and excellence:
Precision Sorting
Internal defect sorting using infrared light and external sorting with high-resolution digital cameras ensures only the highest-quality apples reach retail shelves.
Automated Efficiencies
A highly automated packing line reduces production costs-passing savings on to both customers and consumers.
Speed and Responsivenes
High-speed packing lines allow us to fill orders quickly, including emergency needs, while still handling apples with care.
Flexible Packaging
Our automated system adapts to your preferred pack style-whether it's poly bags, mesh bags, bulk containers, euro cartons, trays, or bins.
Safety and Security
Food safety is a top priority across all our orchards and packing facilities. We require all growers and packhouses to be audited under PrimusGFS™, a globally recognized food safety certification. This audit includes an evaluation of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) protocols, which are designed to prevent foodborne hazards at every stage of production.
In response to the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act, we’ve proactively implemented all necessary measures to meet and exceed legal requirements. Beyond third-party audits, our internal food safety team continually monitors and enforces rigorous standards in both the field and the packing line.
Training & Education
All team members are trained to understand and fulfill their specific roles within our food safety program. We also provide ongoing education for key grower and packhouse personnel, who then train their teams to ensure consistent implementation from harvest through shipping.
Training covers a range of critical topics, including:
- Ongoing pre-harvest orchard inspections to prevent contamination and animal intrusion
- Worker health and hygiene practices
- Facility and product security protocols
- Recordkeeping
Picking & Packing
We support our growers with expert guidance and provide packhouses with the tools to maintain the highest quality-assurance standards during sorting, packing, and shipping. This collaborative approach ensures we consistently deliver the freshest, most flavorful apples to our customers and consumers.
Traceability
Although post-delivery product issues are extremely rare, we maintain a sophisticated traceability and recall system that allows us to quickly identify the exact orchard where any apple was harvested. Annual mock recall tests ensure we’re fully prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to any potential concern.