Rice Fruit Co. earns license to sell SnapDragon, RubyFrost apples

Lockport, N.Y.-based Crunch Time Apple Growers, the collective responsible for SnapDragon and RubyFrost apples, has granted Rice Fruit Co., an apple packaging and marketing facility, license to market both SnapDragon and RubyFrost apples for the 2021 harvest.

Based in Gardners, Pa., Rice Fruit Co. has more than 100 years of experience in the apple packing industry, forming grower partnerships with more than 40 farm families in the surrounding areas, according to a news release.

“We are very happy for this opportunity to be a part of CrunchTime Apple Growers. SnapDragon and RubyFrost are both valuable contributors to the industry-wide effort to keep the apple market energized and exciting for shoppers. We are thrilled to be included in this group of talented organizations and to make these delicious apples available to our customers,” Ben Rice, president of Rice Fruit Co., said in the release.

“Rice brings years of experience within the industry and has a reputation for quality and excellent retailer relationships,” said Jessica Wells, Crunch Time executive director, said in the release. They have existing partnerships with growers who have SnapDragon and RubyFrost acreage and have previously done a bit of cross-docking of SnapDragon for their existing retail customers, both of which will allow them to hit the ground running.”