From the orchard to the storage...

Growing and harvesting high quality apples is part of the formula for successful apple marketing. Given the demands of the marketplace for year 'round category management of apples the storage of apples becomes an additional element of the formula.

The Controlled Atmosphere storage rooms at FOWLER FARMS are considered some of the finest in the industry. The technology that maintains our facility is a collection of proven ideas from around the world. Our computerized CA complex has not been duplicated elsewhere.

New York State CA law requires daily testing of all CA rooms. The rooms at FOWLER FARMS are being constantly analyzed and adjusted to maintain the desired levels of performance. Critical care has gone into developing an ongoing protocol for each variety stored.

Our on site control and maintenance of CA is critical to our overall success. The current equipment will support expansion to several times our current capacity. As the volume of fresh fruit increases we will continue to add more CA rooms.

Every facet of apple handling has been repeatedly tested for the elimination of any potential bruising.  Driveway surfaces are maintained so that bumps don’t exist.  Orchard equipment and packing house equipment have been outfitted with proper types of tires that help insure bruise free travel.

As apples move through the Fowler hydro-feed section to the brushes they are handled with ease.  The line itself is an Agri-Tech PWS with the Merlin color sorting system.  Michigan State has electronically tested our line and found it to be virtually bruise free.

Plant Manager, Butch Godkin, oversees Tray Pack Operation

 The line is equipped with dual Sinclair labeling banks for optimum efficiency.  Our primary bagger is a Newtec bagger from Denmark.  Our automatic Agri-Tech baggers all include the Fowler Soft Touch (Gentle Fill). 

 Each box of apples is packed with pride.  The packer puts their employee timeclock number inside each box.  Tray packs are made with the use of spring cushion trays and foam pads.  The top pad is a paper pad.  Master cartons for our poly bag packs all now use an innovative H divider for the ease of loading and unloading the carton.

 As the line personnel records each lot of apples, a special quality control form is maintained.  This unique report for each lot of apples run provides quality information.  As each packed carton passes through the case sealer a bar code is scanned and the carton ink jetted with a valuable information.  Large character fonts easily depict the variety and pack information.  In addition, a lot and date coding is placed on each carton.  Given that information, we can provide the entire history of the apples in each carton, as well as tell you just how many more of that particular lot is left to deliver!