SnapDragon apples out of New York state have seen a jump in volume this season. “We’re up volume-wise about 25 percent, maybe a little more this year,” says Jessica Wells, executive director of Crunch Time Apple Growers, a consortium of more than 150 growers who grow it as well as RubyFrost apples, amongst other varieties.
“The quality is fantastic. We were a little concerned about size all summer because New York had a bit of a drought. But in this part of Western New York and Central New York, we got rain at just the right time and the fruit sized up nicely and the color is great.”
The proprietary variety started slightly earlier this year out of the state--harvest began in the third week of September.
Wells says the proprietary SnapDragon variety started slightly earlier this year out of New York state.
The increased volume will meet the strong demand for the fruit. “In the first three weeks of the season, sales were up about 130 percent so demand is really good. We’re the official apple of the Buffalo Bills so that’s generated a lot of excitement within the state,” says Wells. “But outside of the state it sends a message that we’re committed to the variety. It’s an amazing variety and it’s just a great apple that’s widely accepted and consumers are going to be looking for it.”
While last year supplies lasted until the end of March, this year supplies could go until mid-May. “We’ll have to see how demand is going because we have some other customers starting a little later into the season so it will be interesting to see how demand continues. There are consumers in a lot of places who weren’t able to get SnapDragon before that are now,” says Wells.
Similar volume for RubyFrost
Meanwhile, another proprietary variety out of New York state, the Ruby Frost, has largely wrapped up harvest. Wells notes that the volume is similar to last year. “And the RubyFrost has beautiful color almost no matter what you do. Sizing is great as well,” she says.
Crunch Time Apple Growers rebranded RubyFrost last year, moving from the “Winterfresh” tagline to “Pretty delicious” along with a new logo that features a ruby. “That’s been a great move and fits the brand better and the season--instead of making it a winter apple it’s an all-season apple. We’re working on updating packaging as needed there,” says Wells.
While last year supplies of SnapDragon apples lasted until the end of March, this year supplies could go until mid-May.
As for pricing on both varieties, it is up thanks of course to increased production inputs. “There’s not a single thing that goes into producing a crop that doesn’t cost more this year,” says Wells.
For more information:
Jessica Wells
Crunch Time Apple Growers
Tel: 716-300-8522
jessica@crunchtimeapplegrowers.com
www.crunchtimeapplegrowers.com