Apr 7, 2023

Hess Bros. releases new winter, spring apple

Hess Brothers Fruit Co., a Pennsylvania apple grower-shipper, is making waves in grocery stores with a new apple variety only available in the winter and spring.

The WildTwist apple is quickly winning fans but is only in stores for a limited time, according to a news release.

A new “twist” on two favorites, WildTwist is a blend of the Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink varieties. Cripps Pink is a Pink Lady brand. The result is a sweet apple with a hint of tartness and a satisfyingly juicy crunch that makes it perfect for snacking.

WildTwist apples are available in the spring, which sets them apart from varieties that are traditionally associated with fall. The new variety is typically sold from January through June. However, due to its rapid rise in popularity, this year’s supply is projected to sell out early, Chris Sandwick, Hess Brothers’ director of marketing, said in the release.

“The seasonality makes these apples a bit more special,” Sandwick said in the release. “Once customers discover them, they come back for more.”

According to Sandwick, Hess Brothers’ director of marketing, the apple has already become a favorite of apple buyers across the country.

“For people to reach for an apple instead of processed, unhealthy snacks, it has to deliver an exceptional eating experience — and that’s exactly what they’ll get with WildTwist,” Sandwick said in the release. “It’s healthy, it’s easy and above all, it’s delicious.”

WildTwist has been a project for Hess Bros. for more than a decade, and fits in with the company’s quest to discover the next great apple, according to the release. Second-generation company leaders Fred and Jerry Hess began developing the variety in 2011. The current generation has carried their vision forward.

“Our goal was to give apple lovers a great eating experience at a time of year when they may not expect it,” owner Ryan Hess said in the release. “We set out to grow an apple that tastes better and lasts longer, and we’ve done that with WildTwist.”

Hess Bros. works with grower partners in Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia to grow the apple commercially. More than 400 acres of WildTwist are planted across dozens of Eastern U.S. farms.

WildTwist apples are available in select supermarkets while supplies last.

Hess Bros. has been supplying premium-quality eastern apples since 1967. Founded by brothers Arthur and Edward Hess, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based company is in its third generation of family ownership and markets an average of 2 million bushels of apples every year.