With 30 acres of apricots, the Nicholsons are among the largest apricot growers east of the Rocky Mountains. Fully ripe, sweet apricots are difficult to find in New York City markets because the tender fruit doesn’t ship well. Apricots also bloom early among tree fruits, which make them difficult to grow in cool climates. The apricots from Red Jacket Orchards are well-known in New York City. The fragile fruits have been highlighted in several newspaper and magazine articles, including Better Homes and Gardens and Gourmet magazines.