With the apple harvest underway in the Pacific Northwest, one variety is drawing particular attention: the Green Dragon Apple, a mass-produced sweet green apple on today's market.
"What's unique about this apple is that it's a sweet, green-skinned apple that's crunchy," says Amy Nguyen of Dragonberry Produce Inc., adding that it's crisp, aromatic, and elegantly green-skinned, offering buyers something rare–a distinctive apple with both story and provenance.
The apple's harvest lasts just 2.5 weeks. Grown in small orchards across Washington and Oregon, each under 100 acres, Green Dragon Apples were first grown here some 32 years ago. This legacy, combined with limited scale and a short season, makes each harvest feel rare and worth savoring, says Nguyen. "Harvesting has been good this year, we're very happy with the way the fruit looks, good quality and no bitter pit," she adds.
For decades, the apple was exported solely to Asia, where it built a loyal following. However in 2007, Dragonberry introduced the variety domestically, carving out a premium niche in the U.S. market.
"When marketing this apple, we focus on the story behind it," says Nguyen. "In a time when so much feels commercialized, it's important to remember that food comes from the ground. You want it to be wholesome." That sense of place is part of what makes the variety special. The orchards sit in view of Mount Adams and Mount Hood, nourished by Hood River runoff. For Dragonberry, the landscape is very much part of the apple's story.
© Dragonberry Produce
Hand-picked fruit
"This is not an apple you can machine pick," Nguyen notes. "It's hand-thinned and hand-picked, which is also part of its story." That attention to detail is visible, she says, in its clean skin, crisp texture, and distinctive flavor.
It also means production depends heavily on skilled labor. Rising costs of labor and materials, from wages to cardboard, have influenced pricing, but the apple's premium position reflects the precision behind its cultivation. "This is a product that demands time, care, and craftsmanship," says Nguyen.
© Dragonberry Produce
Exported by air
Nguyen says exports continue defining the apple's global reputation. "We still ship Green Dragon apples to Vietnam by air. It's very rare for an apple to be air-shipped" says Nguyen. This uncommon practice underscores the demand and delicacy of the fruit, and it's part of the story Dragonberry is bringing to buyers.
The company will showcase the Green Dragon apple and other specialty produce at the upcoming Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, October 16–18 in booth #1113. "There, it's an opportunity to share not just the fruit, but the story behind it: small orchards, meticulous care, and a sweet green apple unlike any other in the market," says Nguyen.
For more information:
Amy Nguyen
Dragonberry Produce Inc.
Tel: +1 (503) 263-8888
[email protected]
https://www.dragonberryproduce.com/
