Apr 25, 2016

USApple launches redesigned website

The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) has released its first new website, still housed at usapple.org, in more than a decade in an effort to better reach consumers, industry members and others.

“The key here was developing a modern, mobile-reactive site that speaks to our many audiences in a more friendly and visually-stimulating way without losing our equity in being the voice of the apple industry,” said Wendy Brannen, USApple’s director of consumer health and public relations.

Brannen managed the project and hired WHOISCARRUS, a micro-advertising agency based in Orlando, Florida, that has a background in web development. WHOISCARRUS helped the commodity group maintain key components of the site that address its position on topics ranging from food safety to ag labor reform while increasing the appeal to consumers and usability for USApple members. The site is also a resource for media, foodservice professionals, nutritionists, educators, retailers, and anyone else involved or interested in the apple industry.

“On the old site, we had reams of information—from PDFs on issues dating back a decade to a laundry list of fun facts about apples that just weren’t that fun the way they were laid out,” Brannen said. “Jeremy Carrus and his team did an outstanding job helping us repackage really interesting health and history nuggets into a more digestible format.”

The new site, she said, also incorporates USApple’s “Blogging for Apples” blog. A new, password-protected section of the site includes a member database and access to the association’s publications.

“Our staff compiles useful industry information in the form of storage reports, annual crop forecasts and real-time issues updates that are extremely timely and relevant,” Bair said.

Members can find reports, renew their membership or find event information.

An orchard map is available on the website for consumers to find apple farms near their homes or travel destinations. Inclusion in the map, which is still being populated and not live yet, will be offered to all members in good standing.

“This is a tool that has long been missing in our toolbox,” Brannen said. “Sure, there is great emphasis on social media and blogs these days, but we needed this home base for people to access our most important information—whether that is a legislative aide researching our position on the Farm Bill, a consumer seeking health data and recipes, or a journalist seeking the latest industry statistics.”