Honeymoon apples, a Honeycrisp cross that has subtly sweet and tropical notes, is available in limited supply from Honeybear Brands.
Kristi Harris, brand manager for Honeybear Brands, told The Packer that the apple offers retailers a great variety and a color break on shelves. Harris said the apple also offers a nutty finish.
“It’s just a beautiful, clean yellow-skinned apple,” she said. “The texture is very dense and firm. It does store well. It travels well. It looks just beautiful on the deck.”
Harris said this is the second year that Honeybear has offered the apple on a limited basis. This time, 10 retailers across the country and in different markets will sell Honeymoon apples, she said.
“It’s going to take a while for volume to grow, but we’re excited about the response that we’re getting from not only the retailers but what they’re saying — that it’s leaving the shelf right away,” she said.
Harris said Honeymoon is also a playful branding extension of one of Honeybear’s other apples, First Kiss, which is an early-season entry in the apple category. She said Honeybear hopes retailers start with First Kiss and progress to “the Honeymoon.”
Retailers can expect to see Honeymoon, which began shipping last week, to fill the apple category when some premium and well-known varieties are moving out of produce shelves, Harris said.
“Honeycrisp is starting to fade on the deck, other varieties are starting to fade in flavor, and this one stores really well, and it’s an opportunity to keep the deck fresh and moving,” she said. “We think that this has got some great potential, and we’re really excited about it. And that’s been the initial reaction to it from our retail partners.”
