Upstate, N.Y. - New York apple growers are getting in on the social media boom with a new app for iPods and iPhones designed to boost sales of apples, the edible kind, around the world.
The app has only been out for about two weeks. The whole idea of it is to make buying apples easier for shoppers by putting everything you ever wanted to know about them in the palm of your hand.
The app was developed by a company based in Connecticut, but the New York Apple Association is the driving force behind all of the information you'll find. People can look at varieties, which apples are best for pies or apple sauce...and even when to find which apples in stores.
Apple Association president Jim Allen hopes the exposure will push sales.
“Anything that raises the awareness and puts the apple in front of the consumer's face...especially at the point of sale… is very beneficial,” Allen said. “If you have a question and you can get an answer, you're probably going to make a purchase right then”.
Apple sales are good this year. Shipments for New York apple growers are up over last year. The new app is available all over the world, too. Out of about 3,800 available apps, it's the 21st most popular in Russia—which is the largest importer of apples in the world.
