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A star is born

The classically bred WA 38 apple is the result of a cross between Enterprise and Honeycrisp made in 1997 by the Washington State University (WSU) apple breeding programme. The apple is sold under the brand name Cosmic Crisp®, selected by consumers for consumers. The distinctive starburst-like lenticels help give the apple its name.

The large, juicy, dark red apple has a firm and crisp texture that provides ample sweetness, making it an excellent eating and baking apple. It is naturally slow to brown when cut and can maintain its texture and flavour in storage for up to a year.

Globally managed by Proprietary Variety Management Limited, the New Zealand company, WA 38-2 Ltd, was granted the exclusive New Zealand rights to grow, market and sell WA 38 apples. The initial milestone is to plant 150 hectares over the next seven years.

WA 38-2 Ltd has since licensed six marketing desks the right to market and sell Cosmic Crisp branded apples, each committed to plant 25 hectares. New Zealand Fruit Tree Company has the propagation license, with trees available through Pattullo’s Nurseries.

For all growers wanting to be part of the programme and wishing to grow WA 38 they should contact any of the appointed marketers: Johnny Appleseed Holdings Ltd, Te Mata Exports Ltd, New Zealand Apple Ltd, Bostock NZ Ltd, Freshmax Exports Ltd and PickMee Fresh.

With the exclusion of the United States, each marketer can promote and sell Cosmic Crisp® branded apples through the key markets around the world, using the peer-to-peer marketing model that permits the sale of fruit between the seller and buyer.

The first fruit was picked last year in early April in Hawke’s Bay. WA 38 displayed its dark-red appearance and distinctive lenticel markings. The fruit was of medium to large size, uniform in shape, crisp and juicy, with a sweet, tangy flavour. The explosive release of juices distinctive of the Cosmic Crisp®, gave the fruit a refreshing bite.

Fruit samples assessed after eight months’ storage demonstrated similar eating qualities as if freshly harvested. The texture and juiciness remained, though the sharpness experienced at harvest time had dissipated.

Each marketer has been allocated test trees that have been planted in a range of sites. Small volumes of fruit will be harvested this year for market assessment.

Jack Hughes of Fruition Horticulture has been contracted to support growers’ technical queries.

Driven by the Washington State apple industry, where over 13 million trees have been planted in just three years and with an aggressive multi-million-dollar marketing launch, WA 38 is quickly becoming a global apple, marketed and sold under the Cosmic Crisp® brand. With nearly two million cartons harvested and packed in 2020, there is an estimated 5 million cartons to be harvested in 2021, then 10 million, then 15 million, and it goes on from there.

The Cosmic Crisp® WA 38 cv brand apple is a rapidly rising star in the industry.

Pattullos Nurseries

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Give us a call today to discuss your needs. Contact Kerry Sixtus at Pattullos Nurseries on either: 06 844 6310 or 027 444 0887 or email office@appletrees.co.nzbuilding profitable horticultural businesses together