Located in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State along the rolling hills of Seneca Lake, Red Jacket Orchards has mastered the art of harvesting and pressing premium fruits and juices! Three generations of the Nicholson family have grown apples and summer fruits, including berries, currants, cherries, peaches, plums, and the largest apricot orchard on the East Coast. Founded in 1958, what began as a local fruit farm has grown to a trusted producer of finest fresh and healthy foods. In addition to producing fresh fare, we offer a range of cold-pressed, all-natural juices and pantry items.
About Red Jacket Orchards
our mission
To inspire purposeful, healthier choices by making more delicious and nutritious foods. We create value for our partners, and drive a culture that nurtures our land, our people, and our community.
Integrity - Hard work for excellence - Respect for our people and planet - Innovation always
to our staff
Our juice begins with you and your commitment to making Red Jacket a trusted and premium brand of choice. Your unique talent and dedication, mastering our long-honed craft of juicing, have ensured Red Jacket delivers health, wellness, and joy every day. Thank you for bringing our mission to life.
The Nicholson Family
The apples didn't fall far from the tree!
Joe Nicholson
Joe returned to the farm in 1972 after working as a junior security analyst with Bache and Co. on Wall Street in N.Y.C. Prior to Wall Street, Joe served on a U.S. Navy mine sweeper attaining the rank of Lieutenant J.G. He received a B.S. in economics from Villanova University (1964) and an M.B.A. from Xavier University (1966). Joe has been an active industry leader serving in various capacities, including President of the former Western NY Apple Association and recently as trustee to the U.S. Apple Association. After 40 years in the business, his passion continues to be experiencing great food, growing unique, top quality flavorful fruit and planning that next orchard. When not at home or abroad, Joe can be found out pruning or sailing.
Brian Nicholson, President & CEO
Brian
graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Business Administration and Marketing (’94). He dabbled in the flower bulb industry with the Dutch family Langeveld Bulb Company, working with the pioneering retailers Home Depot and Walmart. He quickly settled into an advertising career with storied firm Jordan McGrath Case and Partners on Madison Avenue in NY City. Here he learned the trade of “engaging consumers”, including the challenge of expanding Proctor and Gamble’s iconic billion dollar Bounty paper towel business.
Finally returning to “greener pasture” on the farm in 2000, Brian worked in all aspects of the business including establishing their NY distribution (a pioneer in local food), expanding product lines, customers and production capabilities. Together with his family, Brian has led the company in a 23-year growth period resulting in an 8-fold expansion of sales.
Today Brian remains focused on building RJO’s iconic beverage business, sharing the joy of loyal customers and building a mission driven best-in-class business operation for the next generation.
He currently serves as the Learning Officer of YPO Empire chapter, Secretary of Premier Apple Co-op, Advisor to Cornell CALS and Cornell Dyson Business School boards. He is past Chairman of the NY Apple Association and board member of Cornell Agritech. Brian is also the co-author of a nationally recognized cookbook, Fruitful, Four Seasons of Fresh Fruit Recipes (USA Today Top 20 Summer Cookbook).
As a third-generation owner, he and his family are committed to a sustainable future for the family business, their community and family. He and his wife, Kirstin, currently reside in Canandaigua, NY with their three children (Colin, Emily & Anna). Brian enjoys the outdoors through biking, running, hiking, sailing, boating and attending countless soccer games. He recently completed the 2021 NYC marathon (his second) and enjoys competing as a tri-athlete.
Mark Nicholson, Advisor
Mark rejoined the family business in 2002 after working in agriculture policy in Washington, D.C., and today is an advisor to Red Jacket Orchards. His responsibilities at the family owned fresh fruit and juice business over the past 10 years have included managing farm operations, launching sales of a branded juice product line, and since 2012, managing all fresh fruit sales. In addition to this role, he currently works in agriculture and food security policy for a national non-profit. Prior to Red Jacket, Mark’s D.C. careers included working as the Industry Information Manager for the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), and as a Marketing Specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. Mark previously served as the chairman of USApple’s board of directors. He is a 1994 graduate of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, receiving a B.S. in Pomology.
Sustainability
Sustainability is part of our core values—"respect for people and planet." This informs and impacts our daily decisions. Our commitment to sustainability touches every aspect of our business, from the paper and cardboard we recycle to the process apples that form the foundation of our juice products. Every day we capture "waste" product in the form of juice apples that have no other commercial use. Taking this product and turning them into a fresh, delicious, healthy beverage is our craft.
In 2010, our cold-pressed juice facility became LEED Certified Sustainable, powered by 100% Green Energy. After rescuing waste apples and turning them into juice, we ship the by-product of pressing apple pomace to feed cattle. Every part of the apple is utilized in some form, with zero food waste. In 2021, we also began using eco-friendly packaging for our online orders.
With mounting pressure on all of us, we know that our planet thrives when we think and act in new ways that reduce our impact. We are not satisfied with our current efforts, however. We embrace continued focus and innovation that provides radical new solutions in packaging, automation, shrink and wastewater management. We are committed to a better future, living our core value of respect for people and the planet every day.
Orchards & sourcing
Located on the shores of Seneca Lake in Geneva, NY, our orchards began in 1958, when Joe and Emily Nicholson purchased land to grow the fruit they loved. The Nicholson family carries on that legacy and continues to grow hundreds of acres of tree fruit, including apples, apricots, sweet cherries, plums, strawberries, and many more delicious fruits!
Whether in full bloom in the spring or dormant through our cold and snowy winter months, our fruit provides the foundation of our juice and cider that is produced year-round. We source our other juice ingredients from as close to home as possible, with approximately 75% of those ingredients grown within 250 miles. Along with our growers, we practice integrated pest management to limit our use of pesticides on our crops.
We are also the sole proprietor of the one and only SenecaCrisp apple. Developed in 2018 and named for the lush region from which it originated, this apple was hand-selected for its amazingly light and crisp flavor. The variety’s heirloom progenitor is the famed Northern Spy, whose origin is not far from the ground it now grows, the fertile hills overlooking Seneca Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes Region. The SenecaCrisp™ proudly parented both the SweeTango and the popular Honeycrisp; in fact, it’s the only known parent of the Honeycrisp (the other cross has not been identified). And similar to the Honeycrisp, it’s explosively crisp and juicy but enjoys a richer, more aromatic flavor.
Enter your email for juicy updates, coupons, news, and more!
About
Our Juice
© 2024 Red Jacket Orchards.