Lady Alice® apples in grocery stores next month
"It has been incredible to witness the market's reception of Lady Alice® and the resulting growth. We have worked diligently over the past several years to better understand the unique characteristics of this apple- from growing and packing to storing and shipping," said Mark Zirkle, president of Rainier Fruit Company and primary grower of Lady Alice®. "Each year's crop is an improvement from the last, and this is substantiated by the increasing demand."
The story of the Lady Alice®'s growing popularity is truly a rags to riches story. It was discovered quite by chance on a farm near Gleed, Washington in 1978 when a grower accidentally cut an apple tree with his farm equipment. A chance seedling grew from the base, and over the next 25 years steps were taken to preserve and propagate the distinctive characteristics of the Lady Alice®. The Lady Alice® brand apple is named after Alice Zirkle, the co-founder of Rainier Fruit Company in honor of her memory.
What consumers really love is Lady Alice®'s mouth-watering flavor and delightful snap. Like all varieties, these heirloom-like apples are harvested in the fall, but the difference is that the Lady Alice® prefers to store for several months while the flavors continue to develop. The Lady Alice® is characterized by its red-striped skin with a yellow background and sweet, crisp flesh that has a hint of tartness. The density of the apple leaves those who eat them feeling satisfied after enjoying one.
The versatile Lady Alice® apple is an excellent choice for snacking, baking and cooking. Its distinctively sturdy flesh helps the apple retain its texture when heated at high temperatures. Just like fresh cherries, the Lady Alice® apple has a short season, resulting in limited supply and considerable excitement.
The Lady Alice® apple contributes to a healthy lifestyle and compliments a variety of recipes. According to the USDA, apples are among the top 20 foods with the highest antioxidant content per serving. Rich in antioxidants, apples may help boost weight loss and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
For more information, visit www.rainierfruit.com.
