Just when the industry needs a new standard variety to replace the flagging fortunes of red and golden delicious varieties, the Cosmic Crisp has the potential to be a winner for breeders, nurseries, growers, retailers, and consumers, said Lynnell Brandt, president of Proprietary Variety Management.

“Right now we don’t know of any challenges in the production, marketing, or packaging of the selection,” he said.

With red delicious and golden delicious output fading, the Cosmic Crisp could be an important variety in the state’s future.

“It is a great piece of fruit and it answers a lot of needs,” said Jim McFerson, manager of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Wenatchee. The variety handles and store wells and has great consumer appeal, he said.

Article by Tom Karst, The Packer