I had my first taste of an Orchard Bar the other day, a new product of Cashmere’s Liberty Orchards that supplements its Aplets and Cotlets, staples that have been on the market for many decades.

Greg Taylor, head of the company, said the new product has been in a “rolling launch” for the last two and a half years. It’s a nutrition snack bar, with fruit and nuts and soy nuggets, and is being carried nationally by Safeway and Walgreens. Bartells is also carrying the bars now in the Seattle area.

Taylor said that it is being produced in Cashmere with existing technology, and so far has not required new machinery for the production. The bars come in five flavors, with two more flavors to be added, he said. The bars are 60 percent organic, with low sodium. Sales are showing a steady increase, Taylor said.

The nutrition bars are more expensive than a candy bar, but fill a more wholesome niche in the snack field. I looked in the local Safeway for some, but found them sold out yesterday. Guess I will go to the Cashmere for the source.