Knouse Foods

Knouse Foods is a grower-owned cooperative and one of the largest fruit processors in the United States, headquartered in Peach Glen, Pennsylvania, near Gettysburg. Founded in 1949, the company is composed of more than 100 family farms managing over 15,000 acres of fruit orchards in the Appalachian growing region. With three manufacturing plants and over 1,000 employees, Knouse Foods processes 100% American-grown apples and related fruit products year-round, distinguishing itself through controlled atmosphere storage for over 1.5 million bushels of apples — enabling 12-month fresh-apple manufacturing rather than seasonal packing.

The company operates several well-known consumer brands, including Musselman's apple products and Lucky Leaf dessert fillings, which are sold in retail grocery stores, mass merchandise outlets, club stores, dollar stores, military commissaries, and convenience channels nationwide. Its Knouse Food Service division serves restaurants, hotels, schools, and healthcare facilities. Products are distributed internationally across more than 36 countries.

Core manufactured products include applesauce, sliced and diced apples, apple butter, apple juice and cider, fruit fillings, and fruit pizza toppings. Packaging capabilities span a broad range of formats — from 2, 4, and 6 oz cups, 24 and 48 oz PET bottles, and 21 oz cans, to 38 lb pails, 55-gallon drums, and 220-gallon totes — providing flexibility for both retail and industrial bulk aseptic customers.

Knouse Foods offers extensive co-packing services, producing juices, teas, beverages, nutraceuticals, and sauces for third-party manufacturers. An in-house R&D team develops custom product formulas for co-packing clients and long-term corporate brand partners, with expertise in multi-fruit blends, low water activity products, organic formulations, and clean label development.

All plants are SQF Certified, and the company holds several Organic Manufacturing Certifications, underscoring its commitment to food safety and quality. Knouse maintains an on-site analytical services lab with microbiology capabilities and a DEP-accredited environmental laboratory. The company achieves a 98.8% fulfillment and shipping rate and has been recognized by national retail customers for service excellence.

The cooperative's supply chain traceability is a key differentiator — apple products can be traced back to the specific facility, bin, and orchard of origin. This farm-to-table transparency, combined with vertically integrated grower ownership, positions Knouse Foods as a trusted partner for both branded retail and B2B ingredient and co-packing customers across the CPG landscape.