diff --git a/Rakefile b/Rakefile
index 705edee3c36..6f379944a86 100644
--- a/Rakefile
+++ b/Rakefile
@@ -5,100 +5,88 @@ begin
   require 'spree/testing_support/common_rake'
 rescue LoadError
   raise "Could not find spree/testing_support/common_rake. You need to run this command using Bundler."
-  exit
 end
 
-spec = eval(File.read('spree.gemspec'))
-Gem::PackageTask.new(spec) do |pkg|
-  pkg.gem_spec = spec
-end
+SPREE_GEMS = %w(core api cmd backend frontend sample).freeze
 
 task default: :test
 
 desc "Runs all tests in all Spree engines"
-task :test do
-  Rake::Task['test_app'].invoke
-  %w(api backend core frontend sample).each do |gem_name|
+task test: :test_app do
+  SPREE_GEMS.each do |gem_name|
     Dir.chdir("#{File.dirname(__FILE__)}/#{gem_name}") do
-      system("rspec") or exit!(1)
+      sh 'rspec'
     end
   end
 end
 
 desc "Generates a dummy app for testing for every Spree engine"
 task :test_app do
-  require File.expand_path('../core/lib/generators/spree/install/install_generator', __FILE__)
-  %w(api backend core frontend sample).each do |engine|
-    ENV['LIB_NAME'] = File.join('spree', engine)
-    ENV['DUMMY_PATH'] = File.expand_path("../#{engine}/spec/dummy", __FILE__)
-    Rake::Task['common:test_app'].execute
+  SPREE_GEMS.each do |gem_name|
+    Dir.chdir("#{File.dirname(__FILE__)}/#{gem_name}") do
+      sh 'rake test_app'
+    end
   end
 end
 
 desc "clean the whole repository by removing all the generated files"
 task :clean do
-  puts "Deleting sandbox..."
-  FileUtils.rm_rf("sandbox")
-  puts "Deleting pkg directory.."
-  FileUtils.rm_rf("pkg")
+  rm_f  "Gemfile.lock"
+  rm_rf "sandbox"
+  rm_rf "pkg"
 
-  %w(api backend cmd core frontend).each do |gem_name|
-    puts "Cleaning #{gem_name}:"
-    puts "  Deleting #{gem_name}/Gemfile"
-    FileUtils.rm_f("#{gem_name}/Gemfile")
-    puts "  Deleting #{gem_name}/pkg"
-    FileUtils.rm_rf("#{gem_name}/pkg")
-    puts "  Deleting #{gem_name}'s dummy application"
-    Dir.chdir("#{gem_name}/spec") do
-      FileUtils.rm_rf("dummy")
-    end
+  SPREE_GEMS.each do |gem_name|
+    rm_f  "#{gem_name}/Gemfile.lock"
+    rm_rf "#{gem_name}/pkg"
+    rm_rf "#{gem_name}/spec/dummy"
   end
 end
 
 namespace :gem do
-  desc "run rake gem for all gems"
-  task :build do
-    %w(core api backend frontend sample cmd).each do |gem_name|
-      puts "########################### #{gem_name} #########################"
-      puts "Deleting #{gem_name}/pkg"
-      FileUtils.rm_rf("#{gem_name}/pkg")
-      cmd = "cd #{gem_name} && bundle exec rake gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
+  def version
+    require 'spree/core/version'
+    Spree.version
+  end
+
+  def for_each_gem
+    SPREE_GEMS.each do |gem_name|
+      yield "pkg/spree_#{gem_name}-#{version}.gem"
     end
-    puts "Deleting pkg directory"
-    FileUtils.rm_rf("pkg")
-    cmd = "bundle exec rake gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
+    yield "pkg/spree-#{version}.gem"
   end
-end
 
-namespace :gem do
-  desc "run gem install for all gems"
-  task :install do
-    version = File.read(File.expand_path("../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
+  desc "Build all spree gems"
+  task :build do
+    pkgdir = File.expand_path("../pkg", __FILE__)
+    FileUtils.mkdir_p pkgdir
 
-    %w(core api backend frontend sample cmd).each do |gem_name|
-      puts "########################### #{gem_name} #########################"
-      puts "Deleting #{gem_name}/pkg"
-      FileUtils.rm_rf("#{gem_name}/pkg")
-      cmd = "cd #{gem_name} && bundle exec rake gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
-      cmd = "cd #{gem_name}/pkg && gem install spree_#{gem_name}-#{version}.gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
+    SPREE_GEMS.each do |gem_name|
+      Dir.chdir(gem_name) do
+        sh "gem build spree_#{gem_name}.gemspec"
+        mv "spree_#{gem_name}-#{version}.gem", pkgdir
+      end
     end
-    puts "Deleting pkg directory"
-    FileUtils.rm_rf("pkg")
-    cmd = "bundle exec rake gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
-    cmd = "gem install pkg/spree-#{version}.gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
+
+    sh "gem build spree.gemspec"
+    mv "spree-#{version}.gem", pkgdir
   end
-end
 
-namespace :gem do
-  desc "Release all gems to gemcutter. Package spree components, then push spree"
-  task :release do
-    version = File.read(File.expand_path("../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
+  desc "Install all spree gems"
+  task install: :build do
+    for_each_gem do |gem_path|
+      Bundler.with_clean_env do
+        sh "gem install #{gem_path}"
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  desc "Release all gems to rubygems"
+  task release: :build do
+    sh "git tag -a -m \"Version #{version}\" v#{version}"
 
-    %w(core api backend frontend sample cmd).each do |gem_name|
-      puts "########################### #{gem_name} #########################"
-      cmd = "cd #{gem_name}/pkg && gem push spree_#{gem_name}-#{version}.gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
+    for_each_gem do |gem_path|
+      sh "gem push '#{gem_path}'"
     end
-    cmd = "gem push pkg/spree-#{version}.gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/SPREE_VERSION b/SPREE_VERSION
deleted file mode 100644
index 30afce968e0..00000000000
--- a/SPREE_VERSION
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-3.1.0.beta
diff --git a/api/Rakefile b/api/Rakefile
index 078a9e191f9..b9121c35249 100644
--- a/api/Rakefile
+++ b/api/Rakefile
@@ -1,27 +1,13 @@
 require 'rubygems'
 require 'rake'
 require 'rake/testtask'
-require 'rake/packagetask'
-require 'rubygems/package_task'
 require 'rspec/core/rake_task'
 require 'spree/testing_support/common_rake'
 require 'rails/all'
 
-Bundler::GemHelper.install_tasks
 RSpec::Core::RakeTask.new
 
-spec = eval(File.read('spree_api.gemspec'))
-Gem::PackageTask.new(spec) do |p|
-  p.gem_spec = spec
-end
-
-desc "Release to gemcutter"
-task :release do
-  version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
-  cmd = "cd pkg && gem push spree_api-#{version}.gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
-end
-
-task :default => :spec
+task default: :spec
 
 desc "Generates a dummy app for testing"
 task :test_app do
diff --git a/api/spree_api.gemspec b/api/spree_api.gemspec
index dbfcfa33949..9aa145b313c 100644
--- a/api/spree_api.gemspec
+++ b/api/spree_api.gemspec
@@ -1,22 +1,22 @@
 # -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
-version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
+require_relative '../core/lib/spree/core/version.rb'
 
-Gem::Specification.new do |gem|
-  gem.authors       = ["Ryan Bigg"]
-  gem.email         = ["ryan@spreecommerce.com"]
-  gem.description   = %q{Spree's API}
-  gem.summary       = %q{Spree's API}
-  gem.homepage      = 'https://spreecommerce.com'
-  gem.license       = %q{BSD-3}
+Gem::Specification.new do |s|
+  s.authors       = ["Ryan Bigg"]
+  s.email         = ["ryan@spreecommerce.com"]
+  s.description   = %q{Spree's API}
+  s.summary       = %q{Spree's API}
+  s.homepage      = 'https://spreecommerce.com'
+  s.license       = 'BSD-3'
 
-  gem.files         = `git ls-files`.split($\)
-  gem.executables   = gem.files.grep(%r{^bin/}).map{ |f| File.basename(f) }
-  gem.test_files    = gem.files.grep(%r{^(test|spec|features)/})
-  gem.name          = "spree_api"
-  gem.require_paths = ["lib"]
-  gem.version       = version
+  s.files         = `git ls-files`.split($\)
+  s.executables   = s.files.grep(%r{^bin/}).map{ |f| File.basename(f) }
+  s.test_files    = s.files.grep(%r{^(test|spec|features)/})
+  s.name          = "spree_api"
+  s.require_paths = ["lib"]
+  s.version       = Spree.version
 
-  gem.add_dependency 'spree_core', version
-  gem.add_dependency 'rabl', '~> 0.11.6'
-  gem.add_dependency 'versioncake', '~> 2.3.1'
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', s.version
+  s.add_dependency 'rabl', '~> 0.11.6'
+  s.add_dependency 'versioncake', '~> 2.3.1'
 end
diff --git a/backend/Rakefile b/backend/Rakefile
index a7518215f96..157d91b8ae0 100644
--- a/backend/Rakefile
+++ b/backend/Rakefile
@@ -1,26 +1,12 @@
 require 'rubygems'
 require 'rake'
 require 'rake/testtask'
-require 'rake/packagetask'
-require 'rubygems/package_task'
 require 'rspec/core/rake_task'
 require 'spree/testing_support/common_rake'
 
-Bundler::GemHelper.install_tasks
 RSpec::Core::RakeTask.new
 
-spec = eval(File.read('spree_backend.gemspec'))
-Gem::PackageTask.new(spec) do |p|
-  p.gem_spec = spec
-end
-
-desc "Release to gemcutter"
-task :release do
-  version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
-  cmd = "cd pkg && gem push spree_backend-#{version}.gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
-end
-
-task :default => :spec
+task default: :spec
 
 desc "Generates a dummy app for testing"
 task :test_app do
diff --git a/backend/spree_backend.gemspec b/backend/spree_backend.gemspec
index 78f5cf82fb0..423b799f55d 100644
--- a/backend/spree_backend.gemspec
+++ b/backend/spree_backend.gemspec
@@ -1,25 +1,25 @@
 # encoding: UTF-8
-version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
+require_relative '../core/lib/spree/core/version.rb'
 
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.platform    = Gem::Platform::RUBY
   s.name        = 'spree_backend'
-  s.version     = version
+  s.version     = Spree.version
   s.summary     = 'backend e-commerce functionality for the Spree project.'
   s.description = 'Required dependency for Spree'
 
   s.author      = 'Sean Schofield'
   s.email       = 'sean@spreecommerce.com'
   s.homepage    = 'https://spreecommerce.com'
-  s.license     = %q{BSD-3}
+  s.license     = 'BSD-3'
   s.rubyforge_project = 'spree_backend'
 
   s.files        = `git ls-files`.split("\n")
   s.require_path = 'lib'
   s.requirements << 'none'
 
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_api', version
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_api', s.version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', s.version
 
   s.add_dependency 'bootstrap-sass',  '~> 3.3'
   s.add_dependency 'jquery-rails',    '~> 4.1'
diff --git a/cmd/lib/spree_cmd/extension.rb b/cmd/lib/spree_cmd/extension.rb
index ac5a89e5f9b..a5e63eb2d07 100644
--- a/cmd/lib/spree_cmd/extension.rb
+++ b/cmd/lib/spree_cmd/extension.rb
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 module SpreeCmd
-
   class Extension < Thor::Group
     include Thor::Actions
 
     desc "builds a spree extension"
-    argument :file_name, :type => :string, :desc => 'rails app_path', :default => '.'
+    argument :file_name, type: :string, desc: 'rails app_path', default: '.'
 
     source_root File.expand_path('../templates/extension', __FILE__)
 
@@ -30,16 +29,14 @@ def generate
     end
 
     def final_banner
-      say %Q{
+      say %{
         #{'*' * 80}
 
-        Your extension has been generated with a gemspec dependency on Spree #{spree_version}.
+        Your extension has been generated with a gemspec dependency on Spree #{Spree.version}.
 
         For more information on the versioning of Spree.
         See https://guides.spreecommerce.com/developer/extensions_tutorial.html#versioning-your-extension
 
-        Consider listing your extension in the official extension registry https://spreecommerce.com/extensions
-
         #{'*' * 80}
       }
     end
@@ -49,16 +46,11 @@ def class_name
         Thor::Util.camel_case file_name
       end
 
-      def spree_version
-        '3.1.0.beta'
-      end
-
       def use_prefix(prefix)
         unless file_name =~ /^#{prefix}/
           @file_name = prefix + Thor::Util.snake_case(file_name)
         end
       end
     end
-
   end
 end
diff --git a/cmd/lib/spree_cmd/templates/extension/extension.gemspec b/cmd/lib/spree_cmd/templates/extension/extension.gemspec
index 67d9671b0a3..7a0a420bc03 100644
--- a/cmd/lib/spree_cmd/templates/extension/extension.gemspec
+++ b/cmd/lib/spree_cmd/templates/extension/extension.gemspec
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.platform    = Gem::Platform::RUBY
   s.name        = '<%= file_name %>'
-  s.version     = '<%= spree_version %>'
+  s.version     = '<%= Spree.version %>'
   s.summary     = 'TODO: Add gem summary here'
   s.description = 'TODO: Add (optional) gem description here'
   s.required_ruby_version = '>= 2.0.0'
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.require_path = 'lib'
   s.requirements << 'none'
 
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', '~> <%= spree_version %>'
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', '~> <%= Spree.version %>'
 
   s.add_development_dependency 'capybara', '~> 2.4'
   s.add_development_dependency 'coffee-rails'
diff --git a/cmd/spree_cmd.gemspec b/cmd/spree_cmd.gemspec
index 4384a9a09c1..f708f5c08f4 100644
--- a/cmd/spree_cmd.gemspec
+++ b/cmd/spree_cmd.gemspec
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 # -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
 $:.push File.expand_path("../lib", __FILE__)
-version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
+require_relative '../core/lib/spree/core/version.rb'
 
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.name        = "spree_cmd"
-  s.version     = version
+  s.version     = Spree.version
   s.authors     = ["Chris Mar"]
   s.email       = ["chris@spreecommerce.com"]
   s.homepage    = "http://spreecommerce.com"
-  s.license     = %q{BSD-3}
+  s.license     = 'BSD-3'
   s.summary     = %q{Spree Commerce command line utility}
   s.description = %q{tools to create new Spree stores and extensions}
 
diff --git a/core/Rakefile b/core/Rakefile
index d28e3ed8fae..360c0b3cad3 100644
--- a/core/Rakefile
+++ b/core/Rakefile
@@ -1,27 +1,12 @@
 require 'rubygems'
 require 'rake'
 require 'rake/testtask'
-require 'rake/packagetask'
-require 'rubygems/package_task'
 require 'rspec/core/rake_task'
 require 'spree/testing_support/common_rake'
-load 'lib/tasks/exchanges.rake'
 
-Bundler::GemHelper.install_tasks
 RSpec::Core::RakeTask.new
 
-spec = eval(File.read('spree_core.gemspec'))
-Gem::PackageTask.new(spec) do |p|
-  p.gem_spec = spec
-end
-
-desc "Release to gemcutter"
-task :release do
-  version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
-  cmd = "cd pkg && gem push spree_core-#{version}.gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
-end
-
-task :default => :spec
+task default: :spec
 
 desc "Generates a dummy app for testing"
 task :test_app do
diff --git a/core/lib/generators/spree/install/install_generator.rb b/core/lib/generators/spree/install/install_generator.rb
index d7a07932c0b..b8af436aa6c 100644
--- a/core/lib/generators/spree/install/install_generator.rb
+++ b/core/lib/generators/spree/install/install_generator.rb
@@ -38,14 +38,6 @@ def add_files
       template 'config/initializers/spree.rb', 'config/initializers/spree.rb'
     end
 
-    def config_spree_yml
-      create_file "config/spree.yml" do
-        settings = { 'version' => Spree.version }
-
-        settings.to_yaml
-      end
-    end
-
     def additional_tweaks
       return unless File.exists? 'public/robots.txt'
       append_file "public/robots.txt", <<-ROBOTS
diff --git a/core/lib/spree/migrations.rb b/core/lib/spree/migrations.rb
index 1f19d2dadc9..9c91954d4a4 100644
--- a/core/lib/spree/migrations.rb
+++ b/core/lib/spree/migrations.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def initialize(config, engine_name)
     # Shouldn't run on test mode because migrations inside engine don't have
     # engine name on the file name
     def check
-      if File.exists?("config/spree.yml") && File.directory?("db/migrate")
+      if File.directory?("db/migrate")
         engine_in_app = app_migrations.map do |file_name|
           name, engine = file_name.split(".", 2)
           next unless match_engine?(engine)
diff --git a/core/spec/lib/spree/migrations_spec.rb b/core/spec/lib/spree/migrations_spec.rb
index 11835df8ad5..488c71bf53f 100644
--- a/core/spec/lib/spree/migrations_spec.rb
+++ b/core/spec/lib/spree/migrations_spec.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ module Spree
     subject { described_class.new(config, "spree")  }
 
     before do
-      expect(File).to receive(:exists?).with("config/spree.yml").and_return true
       expect(File).to receive(:directory?).with("db/migrate").and_return true
     end
 
diff --git a/core/spree_core.gemspec b/core/spree_core.gemspec
index f4959c8afc6..6c8c56fccc7 100644
--- a/core/spree_core.gemspec
+++ b/core/spree_core.gemspec
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 # encoding: UTF-8
-version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
+require_relative 'lib/spree/core/version.rb'
 
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.platform    = Gem::Platform::RUBY
   s.name        = 'spree_core'
-  s.version     = version
+  s.version     = Spree.version
   s.summary     = 'The bare bones necessary for Spree.'
   s.description = 'The bare bones necessary for Spree.'
 
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.author      = 'Sean Schofield'
   s.email       = 'sean@spreecommerce.com'
   s.homepage    = 'http://spreecommerce.com'
-  s.license     = %q{BSD-3}
+  s.license     = 'BSD-3'
 
   s.files        = `git ls-files`.split("\n")
   s.require_path = 'lib'
diff --git a/frontend/Rakefile b/frontend/Rakefile
index d8673a6caa1..cf2bff13cda 100644
--- a/frontend/Rakefile
+++ b/frontend/Rakefile
@@ -1,26 +1,12 @@
 require 'rubygems'
 require 'rake'
 require 'rake/testtask'
-require 'rake/packagetask'
-require 'rubygems/package_task'
 require 'rspec/core/rake_task'
 require 'spree/testing_support/common_rake'
 
-Bundler::GemHelper.install_tasks
 RSpec::Core::RakeTask.new
 
-spec = eval(File.read('spree_frontend.gemspec'))
-Gem::PackageTask.new(spec) do |p|
-  p.gem_spec = spec
-end
-
-desc "Release to gemcutter"
-task :release do
-  version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
-  cmd = "cd pkg && gem push spree_frontend-#{version}.gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
-end
-
-task :default => :spec
+task default: :spec
 
 desc "Generates a dummy app for testing"
 task :test_app do
diff --git a/frontend/spree_frontend.gemspec b/frontend/spree_frontend.gemspec
index a2f32eb07bd..7c1958227ce 100644
--- a/frontend/spree_frontend.gemspec
+++ b/frontend/spree_frontend.gemspec
@@ -1,25 +1,25 @@
 # encoding: UTF-8
-version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
+require_relative '../core/lib/spree/core/version.rb'
 
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.platform    = Gem::Platform::RUBY
   s.name        = 'spree_frontend'
-  s.version     = version
+  s.version     = Spree.version
   s.summary     = 'Frontend e-commerce functionality for the Spree project.'
   s.description = s.summary
 
   s.author      = 'Sean Schofield'
   s.email       = 'sean@spreecommerce.com'
   s.homepage    = 'https://spreecommerce.com'
-  s.license     = %q{BSD-3}
+  s.license     = 'BSD-3'
 
   s.files        = `git ls-files`.split("\n")
   s.test_files   = `git ls-files -- {test,spec,features}/*`.split("\n")
   s.require_path = 'lib'
   s.requirements << 'none'
 
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_api', version
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_api', s.version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', s.version
 
   s.add_dependency 'bootstrap-sass',  '>= 3.3.5.1', '< 3.4'
   s.add_dependency 'canonical-rails', '~> 0.0.4'
diff --git a/sample/Rakefile b/sample/Rakefile
index e3ae1803560..8dec729fa6e 100644
--- a/sample/Rakefile
+++ b/sample/Rakefile
@@ -1,28 +1,15 @@
+require 'rubygems'
 require 'rake'
 require 'rake/testtask'
-require 'rake/packagetask'
-require 'rubygems/package_task'
 require 'rspec/core/rake_task'
 require 'spree/testing_support/common_rake'
 
-spec = eval(File.read('spree_sample.gemspec'))
-
-Gem::PackageTask.new(spec) do |p|
-  p.gem_spec = spec
-end
+RSpec::Core::RakeTask.new
 
-desc "Release to gemcutter"
-task :release do
-  version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
-  cmd = "cd pkg && gem push spree_sample-#{version}.gem"; puts cmd; system cmd
-end
+task default: :spec
 
 desc "Generates a dummy app for testing"
 task :test_app do
   ENV['LIB_NAME'] = 'spree/sample'
   Rake::Task['common:test_app'].invoke
-  Rake::Task['common:seed'].invoke
 end
-
-RSpec::Core::RakeTask.new
-task :default => :spec
diff --git a/sample/spree_sample.gemspec b/sample/spree_sample.gemspec
index 9f21a9afdc3..b419bbd87e9 100644
--- a/sample/spree_sample.gemspec
+++ b/sample/spree_sample.gemspec
@@ -1,21 +1,21 @@
 # encoding: UTF-8
-version = File.read(File.expand_path("../../SPREE_VERSION", __FILE__)).strip
+require_relative '../core/lib/spree/core/version.rb'
 
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.platform    = Gem::Platform::RUBY
   s.name        = 'spree_sample'
-  s.version     = version
+  s.version     = Spree.version
   s.summary     = 'Sample data (including images) for use with Spree.'
   s.description = 'Required dependency for Spree'
 
   s.author      = 'Sean Schofield'
   s.email       = 'sean@spreecommerce.com'
   s.homepage    = 'http://spreecommerce.com'
-  s.license     = %q{BSD-3}
+  s.license     = 'BSD-3'
 
   s.files        = `git ls-files`.split("\n")
   s.require_path = 'lib'
   s.requirements << 'none'
 
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', s.version
 end
diff --git a/spree.gemspec b/spree.gemspec
index 670dce64a05..84a1ed88fe2 100644
--- a/spree.gemspec
+++ b/spree.gemspec
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # encoding: UTF-8
-version = File.read(File.expand_path('../SPREE_VERSION',__FILE__)).strip
+require_relative 'core/lib/spree/core/version.rb'
 
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.platform    = Gem::Platform::RUBY
   s.name        = 'spree'
-  s.version     = version
+  s.version     = Spree.version
   s.summary     = 'Full-stack e-commerce framework for Ruby on Rails.'
-  s.description = 'Spree is an open source e-commerce framework for Ruby on Rails.  Join us on the spree-user google group or in #spree on IRC'
+  s.description = 'Spree is an open source e-commerce framework for Ruby on Rails. Join us on http://slack.spreecommerce.com'
 
   s.files        = Dir['README.md', 'lib/**/*']
   s.require_path = 'lib'
@@ -15,12 +15,12 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.author       = 'Sean Schofield'
   s.email        = 'sean@spreecommerce.com'
   s.homepage     = 'http://spreecommerce.com'
-  s.license      = %q{BSD-3}
+  s.license      = 'BSD-3'
 
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', version
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_api', version
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_backend', version
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_frontend', version
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_sample', version
-  s.add_dependency 'spree_cmd', version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_core', s.version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_api', s.version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_backend', s.version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_frontend', s.version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_sample', s.version
+  s.add_dependency 'spree_cmd', s.version
 end