Hundreds of people joined a celebration of the eight-year anniversary of the S. Martinelli Company Store on Harvest Drive Thursday during an ice cream social.
To mark the return of the holidays, Martinelli’s offered up samples of its Apple Cider & Cranberry Jam Ice Cream.
Gun Ruder, president and CEO of Martinelli, said the Cider/Cranberry Jam Ice Cream has returned for a limited time after a successful introduction last year.
“This is a new product that we developed together with McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams of Santa Barbara. Like all our products, it reflects high quality and craft,” Ruder said.
Martinelli’s, a cornerstone Watsonville business, has been producing apple juice and sparkling ciders made from U.S. grown apples since 1868. It opened its Company Store to offer an array of their brand name goods, from juices and ciders, to clothing, aprons, and gifts. The store is lined with early day photos that depict the company’s history and growth.
Ruder said he was thrilled with Thursday’s turnout, as visitors lined up to sample the ice cream and Martinelli’s beverages.
The Company Store is at 45 Harvest Drive.
