Honeybear Brands has announced that its First Kiss apple variety will begin shipping on August 27, marking the official start of the 2026 fall apple season. First Kiss is an early-season variety that serves as the entry point for the broader apple harvest transition from summer fruit.
For buyers and category managers, this is a meaningful seasonal signal. The apple season changeover is one of the bigger produce department resets of the year, and knowing when the first commercial volumes hit helps with promotional planning and transition timing from summer stone fruit.
Watch for volume and quality reports as the First Kiss crop comes in — early-season apple quality often sets the tone for buyer and consumer expectations heading into the heart of the fall harvest window.