Honeybear Brands to start First Kiss apples this month

Elgin, MN, August 4, 2026 – Fall apple season officially kicks off with the first apple shipment slated for August 27. First Kiss is the early variety primer.

Shipping from Honeybear Brands’ BB #:128246 Midwest facilities, this Minnesota-grown, bright and sassy variety will help boost fresh produce sales.

And shoppers are ready to fall in love. First Kiss, which has been increasing in popularity since its debut a few years ago is available in limited supply and exclusively from Honeybear. This season, its heading back to retail shelves in late August providing an early kick off to new crop apple season.

“First Kiss is a signal to shoppers that fall apple season has officially begun. For retailers, this apple variety offers a first bite of the seasonal sales boost that the fall apple crop offers,” said Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing at Honeybear Brands. “And while First Kiss has been growing volume, they remain in limited supply, so retailers need to act fast.”

First Kiss is a descendant of the favorite Honeycrisp variety and developed in the same Minnesota growing region by legacy family farmers. It’s the same region where the first Honeycrisp was discovered. A mouth wateringly sweet/tart and juicy apple with a firm, crisp bite and an eye-catching, deep scarlet skin and bright white flesh, First Kiss is a refreshing delight.

About Honeybear Brands
Honeybear Brands is a multi-generational grower, marketer, and innovator of premium conventional and organic apples, pears, and cherries. With operations rooted in the world’s finest growing regions, Honeybear combines sustainable farming practices with state-of-the-art packing facilities strategically located across the U.S. to deliver fresher, faster, and packed-to-order fruit. A robust year-round import program further ensures consistent supply and exceptional quality for retail partners and consumers alike.

Honeybear Brands is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wescott Agri Products. For more information about Honeybear, visit www.honeybearbrands.com. Please contact your Honeybear representative for more information. Honeybear is a trademark of Wescott Agri Products.