Some Washington Producers Are Caught Off Guard By International Propagation Plans For WA 38.
The first Cosmic Crisp international licenses have been signed and the first budwood has been shipped overseas.
Last year, Proprietary Variety Management shipped buds of the new apple variety, designed specifically for Washington’s fruit industry, to international quarantine facilities and licensed two Italian fruit companies to grow and sell WA 38, which goes by the trade name Cosmic Crisp.
The Yakima, Washington, company was contracted by Washington State University to manage the commercialization of Cosmic Crisp, developed by university breeders.
Despite some grower surprise that overseas companies are already involved, the moves mark the university’s efforts to protect its breeders’ inventions in the competitive and complex global marketplace, said university officials and variety managers.
Article by Ross Courtney, Good Fruit Grower
