Consumers can look forward to biting into a new apple variety called SnapDragon™ in all Wegmans’ stores starting in November. Known for its crispy texture combined with a sweet and juicy flavor, SnapDragon has a distinctly bright red dappled color.
Consumers will see special SnapDragon displays which will be highlighted by in-store demos this weekend in all Wegmans’ stores on November 8th and 9th. Growers will also make in-store appearances at select stores to visit with shoppers and answer any questions. Supplies are only expected to last about eight weeks. “We refer to SnapDragon’s crispy texture as a ‘monster crunch’ because it bursts with a sweet and juicy flavor that comes from its Honeycrisp parent,” stated Jeff Crist, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of NYAG.” The apple was a big hit among taste testers so we expect consumers will really enjoy this new variety especially Moms who are looking for a healthy alternative to traditional junk foods.”
A web site was developed to highlight the benefits of SnapDragon and provide consumers with recipes and pairing ideas at www.SnapDragonApple.com. The site also includes activity sheets for kids and a “Meet the Growers” section that profiles a grower of the month with the full list of growers in New York State. Formed in 2010, the New York Apple Growers is a grower-owned company united with the mission of introducing exclusive, premium flavor apples to the marketplace. The organization is comprised of 145 grower members in the state of New York, representing about 60% of the state’s apple production.
Developed by Cornell University, SnapDragon, as well as RubyFrost™ is licensed for a managed release with the New York Apple Growers (NYAG) and RubyFrost will go to market in January 2015. Growers pay royalties on trees purchased, acreage planted and fruit produced, and the income is used to market the new varieties and support Cornell’s apple-breeding program.
Both varieties have been a decade in the making with the first trees planted in farmers’ orchards in 2011. Now the still-young trees have produced a limited crop this year with plans for a much larger roll out in 2015-16.
Apple breeder, Susan Brown, at Cornell’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York said, “Consumer reaction to these two varieties has exceeded our already high expectations. Many customers have declared that they have a new ‘favorite’ apple.” For more information, visitwww.SnapDragonApple.com.