The trees take three years to produce a crop, said Kathryn Grandy, a member of the team marketing the apple. In addition to helping pay for that research, apple growers need a license to buy the trees and pay a royalty on sales of the fruit. Scientists at Washington State’s Tree Fruit Research Center in Wenatchee spent 20 years breeding the desired apple tree seeds. Remarkably, this is the first apple variety developed in Washington state, which has been known for apples for more than a century. We’re trying to make some money with it.” “Better quality makes for better returns,” said Clark, the grower. “We’re expecting it to increase in volume rapidly.”Īdams could not speculate on how much Cosmic Crisp apples will cost per pound. “It’s going to shake things up in a great way,” Adams said. Washington growers, who had watched the market share for sometimes mushy Red Delicious apples plummet over time, were looking to replicate the success of the Honeycrisp, Adams said. “A new variety can reinvigorate a market and industry.” “A new apple brings excitement,” said Toni Lynn Adams, spokeswoman for the Washington Apple Commission, which markets apples internationally. With so much success, why was a new apple variety needed? About 50,000 people pick some 12 billion apples by hand each fall. The state has about 1,500 apple growers and 175,000 acres of orchards. The top varieties are Gala (23%), Red Delicious (20%) and Fuji (13%).Īpples are grown in the arid valleys and brown hillsides of central Washington, a few hours east of Seattle, and watered by irrigation projects. “It better be because we are going to have a lot of them.”Īpples are a $2.5-billion-a-year business in Washington, which grows about 60% of the nation’s supply, or nearly 140 million boxes. “This apple has a good opportunity to be a hit with a lot of people,” said Clark, a vice president of Price Cold Storage, a company with orchards and fruit warehouses throughout central Washington. It was developed by the University of Minnesota. The Honeycrisp, nicknamed “Moneycrisp” by some growers, was the latest apple to spark a big buzz in the United States when it was introduced a couple of decades ago. “It’s ultra-crisp, very juicy and has a good balance of sweetness and tartness.”Ĭosmic Crisps are a cross between the disease-resistant Enterprise and the popular, crunchy Honeycrisp varieties. The new variety keeps for a long time in storage and in the refrigerator, said Kate Evans, who runs the breeding program at Washington State.Īnd it’s an exceptionally good “eating apple,” she said. According to Cosmic Crisp’s website, “The average size of a Washington apple orchard is about 100 acres, but some cover as many as 5,000 acres and employ 300 or more farm workers year-round.” Cosmic Crisp apples grow in all five regions.“I’ve never seen an apple prettier in the orchard than these things are,” said Aaron Clark of Yakima, whose family owns several orchards in central Washington and has planted 80 acres of Cosmic Crisps. They all share the same ideal growing conditions that lay the foundation for growing the world’s best apples. Washington State has five main growing regions for apples: Okanogan, Lake Chelan, Wenatchee, Columbia River, and Yakima Valley. He worked alongside Washington State University’s tree fruit breeding program to cross-pollinate, taste, and test. Bruce Barritt, a horticulturist, wanted a firm, crisp, and juicy apple and after decade of researching and experimenting, the Cosmic Crisp was born. The Comic Crisp apple has been in development for over 20 years. The large, juicy, and red apple has a perfectly balanced flavor and firm texture, making it ideal for snacking, cooking, baking, and entertaining. Classically bred and grown in Washington State, the Cosmic Crisp® is a cross of the Enterprise and Honeycrisp varieties.
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