LOCKPORT, NEW YORK - Do you hear that? The Monster Crunch apple is back, and it’s coming in full force. Crunch Time Apple Growers revealed growers across New York State are now handpicking SnapDragon™ apples, the official apple of the Buffalo Bills. The group of more than 150 New York state-based growers revealed the variety’s crop this year increased by 25 percent, and the first boxes are now arriving in stores.

“Perfectly timed rain and cool evenings are making for a beautiful crop, with great color, perfect size, and phenomenal flavor! We’re very excited about this year’s crop,” commented Jessica Wells, Crunch Time Apple Growers Executive Director.

According to the release, the increase in production is thanks to trees planted a few years ago that are now producing apples. And that trend should continue for Crunch Time as some growers are in their final year of the most recent SnapDragon acreage increase, which will allow production to continue to increase steadily over the next few years.

Last season, SnapDragon had a monster year, as sales were up more than 30 percent overall and 40 percent among Crunch Time’s top retailers. As SnapDragon kicks off this year’s harvest with a larger crop and a new partnership with the Buffalo Bills, sales are expected to outpace last season’s.

SnapDragon apples were developed by Dr. Susan Brown of Cornell University in Geneva, New York. Commercially, all the apples are grown in New York, which allows for more cost-effective transportation to primary selling regions along the East Coast, thus creating better quality apples and lower shelf prices.

Consumers can expect SnapDragon apples at Wegmans, Aldi, Publix, H-E-B, Food Lion, Trader Joe’s, The Fresh Market, Costco, and many other great retailers in the coming days and weeks.

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Crunch Time Apple Growers SnapDragon™