Harvesting Wisdom: Setting the Stage for Fall
As the days grow shorter and the summer heat gives way to crisp fall air, your produce department is ready for its seasonal transformation. Transitioning from summer’s juicy fruits to autumn’s hearty harvest isn’t a single event—it’s a process that unfolds in stages. The first happens in late-September and is a time to clean up from summer and embrace change.
“It’s not just about swapping out peaches and nectarines for pumpkins and squash; it’s about creating a fresh, inviting display that captures the spirit of harvest season and excites customers,” says OGC’s Jeff Fairchild.
So, how do you tackle this shift efficiently while keeping your department looking bountiful? Let’s dive into the details.
Fall For Grapes
The first stage of a fall reset can be a challenge due to the limited availability of apples, pears and pomegranates to fill spaces as they are vacated by melons, peaches, plums and nectarines. One great solution is to go big on grapes. Between exciting Northwest grown varieties and California peaking on some of the season's best classics, allocating more space for grapes can be a big win for sales.
Kiwi berries and cranberries are also a great way to maintain excitement in the berry category and introduce shoppers to a fun, truly seasonal fruits. Additionally, larger displays of open pints of fresh figs can be inviting and create nice rings through the register.
Another opportunity is to create bigger footprints on items that sell well in September, like Honeycrisp and Fuji apples or Bartlett and Starkrimson pears. It’s also a great time to use any excess dry table space to merchandise an off-the-rack display of peppers, corn, basil and even some early season wild mushrooms. Think “harvest fest” and merchandising that instantly lets shoppers know it’s fall when they walk through the door.
October: Time to Go Big
Early October is when you can fully embrace fall merchandising. Pumpkin patches outside the stores should be filled with decorative gourds, a variety of pumpkins in all shapes, sizes and colors and corn stalks as available to create fall excitement.
Inside the store, apple and pear displays should feature new crops of classic favorites and intriguing unique varieties. Suddenly, the department becomes squeezed to fit the wide selection indicative of the bounty of the harvest. Well-chosen options, displayed beautifully and rotated with new types every few weeks, will entice customers and keep interest high.
OGC’s apple and pear planning and promotion resources can be found here:
Pear Toolkit
HARVESTING WISDOM: MAKE PEARS SHINE THIS FALL
APPLE TOOLKIT
HARVESTING WISDOM: MAKE THE MOST OF APPLE SEASON
Hard Squash & Pumpkins
Nothing says fall like a bountiful display of pumpkins and colorful hard squash. When building an outdoor pumpkin patch, go big! Shoppers love having a variety of shapes and sizes to choose from—big, small, long, narrow or squat. Specialty pumpkins have been gaining traction, and offering an assortment can be a big win, with some selling at a premium price.
Inside, think carefully curated displays of hard squash. “Over the years, I have seen hard squash merchandised as a big cornucopia to a carefully curated display,” says Jeff. "Curating by sales ensures that there’s enough of what shoppers want most, without losing space to what isn’t moving."
Specialty Fall Fruit
October also brings the arrival of quince, pomegranates and persimmons. Early season fruit offers a lot of excitement, and as the season progresses, colors become rich, sizing large and it’s time to go big. Eaters love the deep red, jumbo Wonderful pomegranates, and they can be a standout in displays. A peak-season pomegranate promotional display with a larger footprint is useful to anchor adjacent seasonal fruit offerings.
Persimmons are also an anticipated fall favorite. Offer both types: Hachiya, which needs to be soft to be eaten, and Fuyu, which can be eaten firm or soft. Let the deep orange color of the fruit speak for itself, gradually expanding as the season progresses into November. Ad pricing is often available on both varieties, and shoppers are sure to pick up several for fresh eating, preserving, baking and decorating.
Embrace the Transition
The fall reset isn’t just a functional task—it’s a chance to refresh your displays, highlight new organic offerings and create a festive atmosphere shoppers will love. Have fun with the process. By making thoughtful choices, your produce department will be vibrant throughout the fall season and inspire eaters to celebrate the harvest.