Cosmic Crisp 2019 Debut Pt 1

Cosmic Crisp 2019 Debut Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. The air in Washington state this summer won't be filled with smoke from wildfires AS MUCH as it will be with anticipation of the official launch of the Cosmic Crisp apple.

Washington state's newest apple has been the buzz now for a couple of years.

Proprietary Variety Management marketing director, Kathryn

Grandy says we're mere months away ...

GRANDY ... "The apple will harvest in, probably, we're projecting, at this time, around October 1st. And, it's an apple that is best suited to sit for a little bit and allow the starch and sugars to get to the best levels for a good eating quality."

She says a lot of people have help decide the best time for release ...

GRANDY ... "Our industry, you know, helped set the quality standards so that we could have the, really, the best fruit and best tasting fruit going to market."

So, Grandy says you won't find it in stores until later ...

GRANDY ... "The industry quality standards committee with PVM will, and WSU, will continue to look at those standards throughout this first year and, you know, it will be basically a working document and a working plan so we really believe we're going to have great quality apples going to market starting December 1st."

This first season is expected to produce nearly 500-thousand boxes of Cosmic Crisp, but will grow exponentially over the next couple of years.

Listen tomorrow for more on the Cosmic Crisp 2019 debut.

####

BL: Welcome back to another "Fruit Bites" brought to you by Valent U.S.A. Joining us as always is Valent's Allison Walston. And this week Allison, tell me how can you make sure you have return bloom next year?

AW: Fruit set, thinning, alternate bearing, crop load and return bloom are all points in time when an orchardist is worried about their apple crop. Too much fruit this year can lead to poor return bloom next year. Soooo, in come the plant growth regulators again.

BL: We've talked about PGRs before, but they can help bloom for next year?

AW: Yes, there is a bit of a window between June drop and July when the fruit no longer responds to thinning agents and before the fruit responds to ripening agents...that's when you apply PGRs, like NAA, to set fruit buds for next year.

BL: Wow, small window and complicated.

AW: Plus you shouldn't spray NAA when daytime temperatures are over 85 degrees. So hopefully our temperatures drop a bit.

BL: Well, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for more Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I'm Bob Larson.

Previous ReportIndia and Mexico Trade Pt 2
Next ReportCosmic Crisp 2019 Debut Pt 2