By Kate Wilhite, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences
PULLMAN, Wash. – Twenty-four Washington growers will be the first to grow the new apple from Washington State University’s breeding program – the Cosmic Crisp brand WA 38 variety.
The growers were selected in a drawing held by WSU in an effort to facilitate fair distribution of a limited number of trees in the first year of release. Applicants were selected using a random number generator.
More than 445 applications were received for the June 6 drawing. Selected growers won a chance to purchase the first trees to be available in spring 2017.
The allotments were separated into two tiers. Tier 1 consists of 12 lots of 3,000-5,000 trees each and Tier 2 has approximately 12 lots of up to 20,000 trees each.
Drawing results were not released until the selected growers signed agreements with WSU to grow the highly anticipated apple, which is a cross between Enterprise and Honeycrisp.
Additional Washington growers will have the opportunity to grow the variety as quantities of certified WA 38 planting stock increase. WSU is working with a number of Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute-affiliated nurseries and other producers to increase stock.
To learn more about this new apple, visit http://cosmiccrisp.wsu.edu.
Cosmic Crisp brand WA 38 variety drawing results
Tier 1 drawing winners:
Leah Eddie
Harris Farms
Jeff Freepons
Mark Hanrahan
Konnowac Orchards, LLC
Conor Kilian
Dalbir Bains
Brook Besor
Melissa Mathis
Cowan Orchards, Inc.
Cox Canyon Vineyards
Ross Montierth
Tier 2 drawing winners:
Double S Orchards, LLC
Weippert Orchard Terrace Heights, LLC
Weippert Orchard Maple Leaf, LLC
Kludt-Waldron Orchards, Inc.
Weasel Ranch, LLC
Mustang Ranch, LLC
F. Lorraine Mathison Grantor Trust
Bob Mathison
Stephen van Someren Greve
HLH Properties, LLC
Stemilt World Famous Compost, LLC
Lyall Family Farms
Contacts:
James Moyer, WSU Agricultural Research Center, 509-335-4563, j.moyer@wsu.edu
Tom Kelly, WSU Agricultural Research Center, 509-335-3691, kellytj@wsu.edu
Kate Wilhite, WSU CAHNRS Communications, 509-335-8164, kate.wilhite@wsu.edu