Cosmic Crisp Planting Off to Successful Start

For the first time ever, trees with the apple variety WA-38, better known by its trade name Cosmic Crisp, were planted in commercial orchards this year.

Lynnell Brandt, President of Proprietary Variety Management, said things have gotten off to a great start, in large part due to the work WSU has put in through their variety’s development.

“But, of course, the ultimate experience is to have commercial volumes and run them across commercial lines and do commercial shipping.”

Brandt believes we could begin seeing fruit for sale, maybe in 2019, but more likely in 2020.

If there is fruit in 2019, it could be off of young trees and carry, and Brandt said it’s critical that the first public opportunity to taste cosmic crisp is a positive experience.

“It’s going to be all about the brand Cosmic Crisp. Our goals are to make this a global brand that is recognized everywhere and sought after and of course the lead industry is going to be the Washington State industry.”

There’s a field day on the WA-38 coming up on September 27^th at the Sunrise Orchards near Wenatchee.

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