Wacky Apple: Healthy + Fun Snacks From Hotchkiss

Originally published in the Fall 2020 issue of SPOKE+BLOSSOM

A “fun and fruity party in your mouth,” a “wow for your senses.” The Tuft family of Hotchkiss uses these words to describe their delicious Wacky Apple products. They believe “eating should be more than just enjoyable, it should be silly and scrumptious, fun and fantastic!” 

Edward Tuft began growing organic apple varieties in the 1970s, but they were a tough sell. Although his personal belief in organic produce — “food for your children and your children’s children” — was at the core of his mission, the market for organic produce was nearly nonexistent at the time. He found himself swimming upstream against the old school mentality that food is just food, and you don’t need to understand the agriculture piece. 

Although challenging at first, the interest in pesticide-free produce eventually took off and Tuft went from his farm’s original 40 acres to 250 acres today, growing apple varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala and Fuji. 

Eleven years ago, Tuft’s daughter, Chloe, came home with a sugary snack from school and said, “You guys can make something better than this!” The dream and mission for expanding into another market for their organic apples was born. 

The Tufts found that children didn’t know where food comes from, other than the grocery store. Their goal became to provide education, in addition to expanding the limited choice of healthy snacks, while appealing to kids. 

“There’s a whole world behind food,” explains Sarah Tuft, marketing director. “Food has a story — it’s not just something set in front of you.” 

The Tufts came up with a fun, engaging name and packaging to grab people’s attention. 

“Folks have been calling me ‘Wacky’ for 20 years,” shares Edward. “I’m an old apple farmer with a crazy idea. 

Thirty year-round and additional seasonal employees are kept busy pressing apples into organic applesauce, fruit juice and dried flat fruit snacks in Wacky Apple’s 25,000 square foot manufacturing center. Their goal is to always source locally, in addition to the apples their farm produces. 

Wacky Apple supplies healthy snacks for six school districts in northeastern Colorado, Whole Foods, King Soopers, Natural Grocers and several small independent stores. The “prettiest” apples are sold as fresh packs, and seconds become one of their three pressed products. Any leftovers are made into compost for next year.

“Our business is pretty special because there is zero waste,” adds Sarah. “The amount of food people waste is terrible.”

The Tufts found their niche in northeastern Colorado school districts, who already had the organic food mindset, and look forward to it catching on in other districts. Every teacher in a school that buys their products receives an educational video showing how their fun apple foods are made. 

“There was a huge shift in mentality for the staff who purchased the school’s food, from just heating up something frozen to now buying directly from farms,” Sarah claims. “It wasn’t long before parents started calling and asking how they were getting their kids to eat fruit.” 

The Tuft’s vision is to provide delicious, healthy and fun snacks while educating children and families about making healthy eating choices. Plus, what child can resist packaging with characters’ shining, happy, dancing eyes and smiles inviting you to give them a try? The packaging also steers you to the Wacky Apple website’s “Fun Zone,” for interactive games, recipes and activities for the whole family. 

Their products use only organic sun-ripe apples, adding just the best organic ingredients. No sugar or artificial ingredients are ever added. Products are all certified organic and Kosher, vegan, non-GMO, BPA free, gluten free, corn free, soy free, nut free and dairy free. 

Wacky Apple applesauce — described as “applesauce with attitude” — is available in Golden, Apricot, Cinnamon, Wild Berry and Mango. Fruit juices come in Apple, Fruit Punch, Grape, Wild Berry and Apple Grape; “Create a celebration in your mouth!” Apple, Wild Berry and Apple Cinnamon dried flat fruit is the perfect snack when you want to have a fresh apple, but don’t have a lot of space, as it fits easily in your pocket, backpack, purse or lunch box. 

Each year Wacky Apple works diligently with Food Bank of the Rockies. They recently donated 73,920 servings to help feed children affected by Covid’s school restrictions. 

“I am on a mission to bring healthy food to kids,” says Edward. 

Mission accomplished. 

9754 3100 Road

Hotchkiss, CO

970.872.4479 / wackyapple.com

Photo courtesy of Wacky Apple.