A recent Michigan State University survey of consumers in the Kansas City metropolitan area indicated considerable home-baking activity. Nearly half of the respondents who buy fresh apples said they cooked with them sometimes, and about half in that group did so at least monthly. The primary end product for 60 percent of those who cooked with apples was pies and cobblers. For consumers who are pressed for time, frozen apple pies offer a convenient option. Frozen pies fill an important niche and maintain strong sales, Lehndorff said.
Thanksgiving is the peak season as millions of apple and pumpkin pies move into home ovens.
The most recent data available shows that more than 22 million frozen pies and more than 14 million frozen pie and pastry shells were sold in November 1996. Many frozen pies can be microwaved, offering even further convenience for consumers. Jonathan and Northern Spy are two of the most widely used varieties in frozen pies. Michigan, which grows more Jonathan apples than any other state, is the leading producer of varieties for commercial pies, supplying between 40 and 45 percent of the national total. Michigan State University researchers recently surveyed state processors about their variety preferences for pie apples.