Chelan Fresh showcases red-flesh apple varieties at Fresh Summit
Chelan Fresh featured apples including SugarBee, Koru, Rockit and three new red-flesh varieties at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Oct. 19-20.
Perhaps some of the most attention-grabbing items at the Chelan booth were red-flesh varieties Lucy Rose and Lucy Glo — the former with red skin and the latter with yellow skin.
New York’s winter apple comes out of hibernation
“RubyFrost just hit the market January 1st and we are estimating a sell through late spring, early summer,” said Rena Montedoro of Crunch Time Apple Growers. “RubyFrost is the “winterfresh” apple. It is picked at the height of freshness in the fall and stored in controlled atmosphere. The apple develops its flavor in cold storage so it has the delicious taste of a freshly plucked apple right off the tree.”
“RubyFrost is available in a 12/2 Pouch, 5lb polybag, and of course bulk,” Montedoro explained. “We provide high graphic bins and POS materials as well. We have several online promotions coming up including our ‘Sweetheart of a Deal’ for February and our popular ‘Baker’s Little Helper’.
WSU President Boasts about the Development of the Cosmic Crisp®
Washington State University has a lot to brag about but recently President Kirk Schulz highlighted the school’s development of the Cosmic Crisp® apple. Schulz cited the apple as a positive economic force for the state. The apple variety is perhaps going to be one of the largest introductions to the apple market ever.
Read the full article in Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Proprietary Varieties Generate Excitement Through Apple Commission Overseas
Promotion of proprietary apple varieties overseas is the Washington Apple Commission’s newest efforts to meet retailer and consumer needs. It’s a balancing act promoting exciting new varieties while still keeping demand up for Reds and Galas.
While Cosmic Crisp®’s initial debut is set for domestic markets only, measures to prepare for exporting when volumes are larger are already being taken. Ultimately funding for marketing and promotion is still key and some of that may come from federal dollars.
Growers are Welcomed into the School of Cosmic Crisp®
Pruning, training, and managing the WA 38 also known as the brand name Cosmic Crisp® is a major part of how Washington State University is working to make the new variety successful.
It’s been a learning experience for the experts too, who have had their share of hits and misses while caring for the Cosmic Crisp®. That’s exactly why they are taking the hand-on and face-to-face approach with growers so Cosmic Crisp®’s quality continues to be consider and topnotch.
New apple varieties based on more than just taste
In pursuit of the next apple variety, Cosmic Crisp® proves to be harvesting demand. It’s a process and anticipation for Cosmic Crisp® isn’t an accident. New apple varieties mean new ways to infiltrate the market and there’s a science to it. Taste isn’t the only component but just a small piece of the puzzle in making an apple successful.
WHAT COSMIC SLICES REVEAL
Scientists at Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission are working to develop a starch scale for the new Washington State University-bred apple variety WA 38, to be marketed and sold under the brand name Cosmic Crisp®.
Shannon Dininny, of Good Fruit Grower Magazine, interviews Ines Hanrahan.
Production Plans A Major Strength for Apple Varieties
Wait and see is no longer the motto for growers, instead large demand has growers working on ambitious production plans. Production is increasing and not a lot of other produce categories can say the same.
The Cosmic Crisp® variety is a new apple that’s really taking advantage of this new trend of aggressive production plans. This has growers thinking about how new varieties will transform into traditional varieties in terms of volume in the years to come. Marketing and storage make up a big part of the picture. There’s no room for mediocre, more good news for Cosmic Crisp®.
Cosmic Crisp® Provides Lessons on Storage and Quality
Cosmic Crisp® has far fewer storage challenges than the rest of the apple market. Compared to other varieties, Cosmic Crisp® isn’t dealing with the typical forty percent losses in storage.
It’s a science and Cosmic Crisp® growers have science on their side thanks to WSU. Less prone to being sunburnt, better firmness longevity and longer harvesting window just to name a few.
The Value of Intellectual Property
Technology has changed the game of protecting intellectual property and managing apple varieties. Growers can now use computers to track trees, production and sales through the entire growing and production process. Cosmic Crisp® is in the hands of Washington growers for the next ten years, an exclusive license that includes strict rules for how to plant and grow it.
Managing varieties as intellectual property helps maintain production control and apple quality and consistency. GIS mapping is one of the ways the Washington growers and ENZA are tracking plantings, acreage, densities, and rootstocks. Other companies use technology like drones and barcodes too.
For Cosmic Crisp®, PVM has launched new program, Idyia. This will give those involved with Cosmic Crisp®, the ability to track sales and production as well the ability to report their own data.
Even with advancements in technology, trust is still a major component of apple variety intellectual property. Shared information is a big part of that trust and varieties’ progress.
