Starr Ranch Growers will be the first United States produce company to partner with the emoji® company on licensed apples, pears and cherries.

Beginning this summer, a deal brokered by the emoji company and its North American licensing agent, Retail Monster, the company will include emoji® brand icons on packages of its top selling varieties such as Gala, Honeycrisp and Fuji in an “apple snaq” pouch bag.

“The powerful and expressive emoji® brand icons are known by everyone” said Brett Reasor, CEO of Starr Ranch. “They encourage real-time engagement and add a personal element to our marketing strategy. We are thrilled to use the official emoji® brand icons on packaging to speak to younger demographics and foster two-way communication.”

Krista Beckstead, marketing and brand specialist, said in addition to humanizing a brand, emoji® brand icons can boost engagement for social media marketers.

For example, Facebook posts that use icons receive 57% more likes and 33% more comments and shares than those without them, and tweets with icons have a 25% higher engagement rate, Beckstead said.

Marco Hüsges, CEO and founder of the emoji company, said, “We are happy to support Starr Ranch as they work to make healthy eating fun. This is a great partnership that will reach shoppers across the United States.”