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Nuts.
You can down a handful while binging the latest must-see streamer. Or, power up with a helping before heading to the gym. They’re perfect for fighting off that afternoon slump at work. And nothing is quite as great for adding savory crunch to lunchtime salads or some buttery indulgence to your morning yogurt. You can even toss them in your own DIY trail mix or use them to fill your little one’s lunch box with a snack you know they’ll love.
There are so many ways to put our favorite delicious, earthy nuts to work each day, from mealtime main courses to snacks, desserts, and everything in between. They’re tasty. They’re good for you. They’re infinitely craveable. And now, you can buy your favorite Harry & David nuts and snacks in bulk — on their own and not bundled in a gift basket — as part of the brand’s new Bear Creek snack line.
The quiet kid on the block
Known for beautifully ripened pears and seasonal fruit, savory meats and cheeses, decadent sweets and chocolates, and award-winning wines (the list goes on and on), Harry & David can add nuts to the list of perennial classics and regular bestsellers, says Andrew Whitticar, the brand’s senior merchandising manager of specialty foods.
“Our pantry assortments have been doing really well in recent years — people really love them,” Whitticar says. “But up until now, the only way you could get a lot of our different varieties of nuts was in gift packs; they weren’t available in bulk.
“But the Bear Creek nuts and snack line changes that. Now, customers will be able to buy our specially curated lines of nuts on their own, and can really enjoy all their personal favorites even more than before.”
A bear of a name
If you grew up in Oregon, or have visited the Pacific Northwest, the name Bear Creek might sound familiar. The 28-mile Bear Creek stream winds through the scenic Rogue Valley, which is located in the southwestern part of the state. It’s a sunny, temperate, agriculture-friendly area, and also the home of Harry & David. Bear Creek Orchards was founded in Medford, Oregon, in 1910 by Samuel Rosenberg, and he eventually passed the business down to his sons: Harry and David.
READ MORE: The Story Behind the Founders of Harry & David
“Once upon a time, Harry & David was known as Bear Creek Operations, so when we were choosing a name for this new line of snacks and nuts, we wanted to nod back to that history and pay tribute to it,” Whitticar explains.
Inside the line
For its launch, the Bear Creek line is debuting a number of both old favorites and new brand extensions. Starting with the classics, you can choose from roasted almonds, cashews, pepitas, in-shell pistachios, and mixed nuts (a blend of peanuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans). Each line is simple yet hearty and contains nothing more than nuts that have been perfectly roasted and then dusted lightly with salt to help bring out their earthy, savory richness.
“In addition to those classic options, we also really tried to focus on some special flavors within the line as well,” Whitticar says.
You’ll find Honey Cinnamon Almonds, Smoke Flavored Almonds (tossed in rich natural hickory flavor), Sea Salt Caramel Cashews, Roasted Cashews with Everything Seasoning, Milk Chocolate Almonds, Honey Vanilla Bourbon Pecans, and even Honey Roasted Mixed Nuts, a blend of peanuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans all roasted in a sweet honey glaze until they reach crunchy golden perfection.
“Some of these are brand new and pretty unique, and some only used to be available at the holidays but will now be for sale year-round, which is exciting,” Whitticar says. His personal favorite? The Honey Vanilla Bourbon Pecans, which he says are perfect for anyone who has an “affinity” for a good serving of bourbon. Well, cheers to that!
Rounding out the collection
In addition to nuts, the Bear Creek line also includes a number of new snacking options. There’s the Yogurt & Trail Mix blend, which combines dried cranberries, dry roasted peanuts, oil-roasted almonds, sweet yogurt drops, semi-sweet chocolate chunks, and dark chocolate-covered soy nuts. Or, try the Chocolate Cherry & Nut Mix, which pairs “sweet and salty” with crunchy, thanks to its unique combination of chocolate, dried cherries, walnuts, and almonds.
For something even sweeter and nuttier, reach for the Cashew Cranberry Almond Mix, which features crispy, roasted cashews and almonds plus dried cranberries, all lightly dusted with sea salt. Whitticar’s favorite in this category? The Premium Paradise Trail Mix, which blends sweet, dried cranberries, papaya, pineapple, raisins, and banana chips tossed with toasted almonds, cashews, and dry roasted macadamia nuts.
And, not to be outdone, for true snacking nirvana, the Bear Creek line also includes two pretzel-specific offerings: Yogurt-Covered Snowflake Pretzels (which are shaped like snowflakes and dusted with silver sugar) and Chocolate Peppermint Tree Pretzels — savory tree-shaped pretzels that have been coated in chocolate and then topped with tiny sprinkles of crushed peppermint. These just scream stocking stuffers!
“It’s a really robust new line that we couldn’t be more pleased with,” Whitticar says. “From old favorites to things that are fun and different for the holidays, there’s something in there for everyone.
“If you’re looking for smarter choices that are healthier and a good source of protein, or if you crave sweet and salty treats, or you’re just looking to try something new, we hope you’ll give Bear Creek a look.”
AUTHOR
Brian Good is a writer, editor, and project manager with more than 20 years experience in publishing. He's written for some of the country’s biggest magazine brands including Men’s Journal, Men’s Fitness, Shape, Men's Health, Muscle & Fitness, US Weekly, AARP: The Magazine, and websites including Mashed, Health Digest, DiversityInc and others. Good specializes on topics including lifestyle, travel, pop culture, health, food and nutrition, spirits, products, politics, and activism.
