LOCKPORT, NY - If there is one thing that keeps shoppers returning for an item, it’s flavor. Win over their taste buds and you’ve won over their loyalty! RubyFrost® apples are actually a triple threat, bringing flavor, visual appeal, and versatility to the buy-side. I spoke with Crunch Time Apple Growers’ Jessica Wells to learn more.

“RubyFrost has a fantastic apple flavor, which is a bit less sweet than a lot of the other premium apple varieties. They’re also very high in vitamin C which means they are naturally non-browning,” the Executive Director told me. “With their fully red skin, they’re just a beautiful apple and very visually appealing. RubyFrost is at its best right now—when they are just picked in October, they can be a bit on the tart side, but storage allows them to mellow to the perfect apple flavor—just enough sweet and just enough tart.”

Remarking further on this visual appeal, Jessica explained that retailers can merchandise RubyFrost with a combination of bulk and packaged apples to achieve the best effect.

“RubyFrost is a very versatile apple. You can eat it fresh, use it on a charcuterie board, cook with it, or bake with it, so merchandising complimentary products alongside them drives sales of both,” she noted.

Crunch Time Apple Growers works alongside its retail partners to provide whatever they need to ensure RubyFrost appeals to their customers.

“We have a couple of display options in different sizes, along with signage and recipe cards that can help retailers build displays. There are several different packaging options available for RubyFrost: the standard 2 lb pouch, a 4 lb pouch, 3 lb, and 5 lb poly bags; paper tote bags; and cardboard packs, along with bulk. All are colorful and eye-catching and come in matching, display-worthy outer cartons if retailers wish to use them as part of a display,” Jessica added. “We also support our retail partners through social media and through targeted local advertising.”

The 2022 RubyFrost crop was excellent in terms of quality and volume matching previous years; Jessica explained to me that Crunch Time has plenty of apples available to support its partners!

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Crunch Time Apple Growers