SELAH, WA - Once again, Rainier Fruit Company is bringing back its Lady Alice® brand apple.
Lady Alice® apples are one of the most eagerly anticipated apples of the season, according to a press release. Regional apple varieties tend to disappear from store shelves in the winter months, leaving apple lovers to look for a replacement. Rainier hopes to have Lady Alice® to fill that niche with its mid-winter release. The Lady Alice® will return to market in February in response to peak consumer interest.
“It has been incredible to witness the market’s reception of Lady Alice® and the resulting growth. We have worked diligently over the past several years to better understand the unique characteristics of this apple — from growing and packing to storing and shipping,” said Mark Zirkle, President of Rainier Fruit Company and Primary Grower of Lady Alice®. “Each year’s crop is an improvement from the last, and this is substantiated by the increasing demand.”
According to a press release, sales dollars of Rising Star varieties are consistently outperforming the Mainline and Declining segments on a dollar basis, indicating that consumers are willing to pay a premium for exceptional fruit.
Discovered as a chance seedling in the orchards of eastern Washington, production of this apple has increased over time in response to consumer demand. Lady Alice® will be available February through May at many major and independent grocery retailers.
