Apples continue to be in excellent supply in the East. "We were fortunate to have a full crop of beautiful Eastern-grown apples this harvest," says Brenda Briggs of Rice Fruit Co. in Gardners, Pennsylvania. who notes that it still has a full complement of its core varieties including Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Golden and Red Delicious.
This year it's also offering extra volume of newer apple varieties such as Ambrosia, Evercrisp, KIKU®, SnapDragon® and its Lemonade™ apples, which is in its second year of commercial production for the grower-shipper. Recent plantings of the apple resulted in greater production this season of Lemonade apples, which are a cross between a Gala apple and a Braeburn apple.
Looking ahead
"We are in a good position to continue through the spring and summer, leading right into the 2024 season," says Briggs. "Our customers appreciate having a steady supply of high-quality, regionally grown apples. Offering regional grown fruit, quick service and fewer food miles are all added benefits."
Meanwhile, demand remains steady for apples, a product that Briggs says is both healthy and economical at a time when consumers' grocery budgets are being challenged by inflation. "Excellent availability allows for lower everyday retails. Apples are portable, they store well and are a nutritional powerhouse. In addition to fiber, incorporating apples into daily nutrition goals has been shown to lower blood pressure, total cholesterol and decrease inflammation. Food really can be a powerful defense in keeping our bodies healthy," she says.
For more information:
Valerie Ramsburg
Rice Fruit Company
valerie.ramsburg@ricefruit.com
www.ricefruit.com