First Kiss, an apple variety that debuted in 2018 in very limited supply and then sold out within days of launch, will be back on retailers’ shelves later this month. Introduced by Honeybear Brands and grown exclusively in Minnesota, home of the Honeycrisp, the variety will also ship to select retailers across the country for the first time.

“We’re spreading the love,” said Don Roper, vice president of sales and marketing for Honeybear Brands. “If last year was about a fleeting first kiss then this year is a little more like going steady. Our orchards are maturing each season and producing more and more of this amazing new fruit, so we’re able to ship — still in very limited supply — to a few retail partners outside of Minnesota who really want to try something that will wow their apple loving customers.”

First Kiss has an incredible pedigree and a taste to match. It’s a result of Minnesota’s perfect apple-growing climate and a descendent of the Honeycrisp. The result is a mouth wateringly tart and juicy apple with a firm, crisp bite and an eye-catching, deep scarlet skin that really stands out in-store.  It’s also grown sustainably by Honeybear Brands’ growers across Minnesota, small second- and third-generation family farms who really know what it takes to grow an amazing tasting apple that delivers the highest quality season after season.

“First Kiss is first in name and nature,” said Kristi Harris, brand manager for Honeybear Brands. “It’s an early season apple, arriving months before the likes of fresh new Honeycrisp is picked and shipped to stores, so it really now marks the opening of the premium apple season and it gives retailers a watershed moment to promote and sell an exciting, new addition to the premium apple deck.”

First Kiss is just one of the premium, sales-generating varieties brought to market by Honeybear Brands, creators of retail stars like Pazazz and regional favorites, including RiverBelle. The company grows, picks, packs and delivers premium varieties and customer favorites to major retail banners across North America and offers best-in-class support and logistics chain management for every customer from orchard to store shelf.