The first apples are arriving in stores now as SnapDragon expands its reach. Growers across New York State are now handpicking SnapDragon™ apples, a Crunch Time Apple Growers apple. As growers prepare to ship more fruit this season, the first boxes are now arriving in stores and growers are excited to get SnapDragon apples, the official apple of the Buffalo Bills, into the hands of consumers.
“Perfectly timed rain and cool evenings are making for a beautiful crop, with great color, perfect size and phenomenal flavor. We’re very excited about this year’s crop,” said Jessica Wells, Crunch Time Apple Growers executive director.
The first boxes of SnapDragon apples are now arriving in stores.
Crunch Time Apple Growers, a group of more than 150 New York State-based growers, announced this year's crop increased by 25 percent, thanks to trees planted a few years ago that are now producing apples. That trend should continue for Crunch Time as some growers are in their final year of the most recent SnapDragon acreage increase, which will allow production to continue to increase steadily over the next few years.
Last season, SnapDragon had a monster year as sales were up more than 30 percent overall and 40 percent among Crunch Time’s top retailers. As this year’s harvest kicks off with a larger crop and a new partnership with the Buffalo Bills, sales are expected to outpace last season's.
Consumers can expect SnapDragon apples at Wegmans, Aldi (NY, CT, PA, FL), Publix, HEB, Food Lion, Trader Joe’s (select stores), The Fresh Market, Tops, Costco (select clubs), ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Sprouts and Safeway (East coast) and many other retailers in the coming days and weeks.
The apple variety was developed by Dr. Susan Brown of Cornell University in Geneva, New York. Commercially, all of the apples are grown in the state. This gives the variety a competitive advantage over West Coast premium apples in terms of more cost-effective transportation to primary selling regions, thus creating better quality apples and lower shelf prices.
For more information:
Jessica Wells
Crunch Time Apple Growers
Tel: 716-300-8522
jessica@crunchtimeapplegrowers.com
www.crunchtimeapplegrowers.com
https://snapdragonapple.com/