By LIA SPENCER
THE apple doesn’t fall far from the tree for the Russo family.
Cousins Nick and Bernadette co-manage the family owned Bellevue Orchard and Summer Snow Juice and were thrilled to host about 90 people last month.
Growers, suppliers and customers of the Officer business enjoyed a lunch and had a tour of the juice facility and processing room, and filtration and bottling room.
The family owned apple orchard has a ripe history, supplying fresh apples and pears to markets and grocers since the 1950s. Bellevue Orchard was first bought into the family by Angelo Russo and his brothers, and was then purchased by Nick’s father Robert and Bernadette’s father Joe in 1977.
A hail storm which ripped through the orchard right before harvest in 1998 inspired the family to install an apple juicing plant and make juice from real fruit and the brand Summer Snow was born.
Bernadette said the family was proud of their products and now brewed tea and cider as well. She said customers appreciated the family’s expertise and that they catered to their needs.
“I think our customers appreciate what we do, because we will do to whatever they want in the way of processing,” she said.
“The customers like the fact that we are willing to find a way of helping them get their products in the bottle and out into the market.”
Bernadette said the casual event was a great success.
“It was a great way to thank them all,” she said.
“We have had a lot of growth in the past five years and we look forward to expanding and working with them while we continue to grow in the future.”
