New Orchard Crisps by Nabisco are fruity crackers with natural fruit flavors, low sodium and no cholesterol. The low-fat crackers come in banana walnut or apple cinnamon flavors. The 73/4-ounce box retails for $2.19.
Don Russell (married, five children at home, ages 14-4): "I really didn't know quite what to expect when I first saw our box of banana walnut Harvest Crisps. I found myself reaching in for more crackers more than once. For people who like banana flavor, these crackers should be appealing. I really couldn't detect any walnut flavor. Harvest Crisps are rather sweet with somewhat of a brown sugar taste. Each little cracker has about 10 calories."Edyth Jensen (married, two children and two grandchildren at home): "The apple-cinnamon crackers are pretty good. Being low-fat, they're good to chew on. Everyone in the family liked them except one who doesn't like apple pie. We may buy them once in a while. They're OK, but they're not wonderful. It's good to have something crisp and crunchy when you're trying to cut out sweets and fat."
Nihla Lake (married, four children at home): I thought these crackers were a little too sweet, but my family really enjoyed them.
"The banana-walnut flavor was a tasty combination, especially since they were natural flavors. The low sodium and fat content was OK, too."
Linda C. Tingey (single mother, four teenage boys at home): "These are really different. They're a little hard, but they'd be good with a fruit cream cheese. They were a little tough, but they were nice for a change. My kids weren't too thrilled with them. They aren't something I'd buy all the time."
Rich Firmage (married, three children, oldest 8 years old): "Nabisco has some great crackers and cookies and we buy their things all the time. I'm afraid these Orchard Crisps won't make our shopping list. The banana flavor in the cracker just didn't do it for me. I'm not sure I can even give these away, but I'll try."
Bill Allred (single): "The apple cinnamon crisps are billed as crackers with real fruit taste, but they tasted more like cookies to me. Maybe we should invent a new name - a cross between crackers and cookies. How about crookies? These crookies are a little dry, but good with milk. The crumbs at the bottom of the box were the best part. There's an outside chance I might buy them again."
Conclusion: The best these fruit crackers could do was "faint praise" according to our testers. They are low-fat, no cholesterol - dry and too sweet.
The Deseret News testing panel independently tests products purchased by the Deseret News. Readers with suggestions for products to be tested should contact the Today Section, Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110.