MILTON, NY - Pumpkins are far from the only produce item to keep an eye on this October. Hudson River Fruit is spicing up the apple category with the exciting new Snapdragon variety and line extension for its popular 2lb pouch bag, Lil Chief Apples.

“Lil Chief Apples has had an overwhelmingly positive response in the marketplace and this year we are adding varieties Fuji and Pink Lady to the lineup," 4th generation Owner-Operator Alisha Albinder shares with me. “Sometimes you just want a small apple as a snack and it's hard to find this size in a traditional store.”

These two varieties join an already robust lineup of bagged apples launched last year by Hudson River, including:

• Gala
• Empire
• Macintosh
• Red Delicious

The lineup could extend even further in the future, Alisha tells me. “The great thing about our bag is that the branding is versatile, allowing us to continuously add new varieties based on consumer demand. The positive feedback we have gotten from consumers is really amazing."

Presented in a package that brings consumers back to its “know where your produce comes from approach,” the 2 lb bags offer high-graphic imagery of its growers, its farm, and its story.

And that's not the only exciting thing happening with Hudson River Fruit this fall. The company is a proud marketer of Snapdragon, the exclusively-grown New York State club variety. When I ask what it is about this latest cross from the Honeycrisp that sets it apart from its popular parent, Alisha provides me something of a fine wine description for the newcomer’s impressions on the palate.

“It’s more mature in its flavor profile than Honeycrisp, bringing hints of other flavors. Most apples generally are just sweet while this offers something more complex,” she shares. "They pair perfectly with wine or cheese and offers a nice refreshing taste you can't get from another apple."

Hudson River Fruit Distributors has been an innovator in the industry dating back to the 1960s when Harold Albinder and his father Isadore first established the company.

"It was always my dream to grow apples, and if I could do it all over again I would do it the same" says Harold Albinder, now at 79 years old. "Sharing our family story with our customers is the best part of what we do."

Stay tuned for more exciting things to come from Hudson River Fruit and be sure to follow the team on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hrfd65/Hudson River Fruit