Cosmic Crisp Exceeds Expectations Pt 1

Cosmic Crisp Exceeds Expectations Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. Uncharted Territory. That's just one of the words used to describe the acreage of Cosmic Crisp apples after it was anticipated to reach 5.8 million acres in 2018..

Proprietary Variety Management's Kathryn Grandy says demand has exceeded expectations ...

GRANDY ... "We're looking at shipping somewhere around 6.7 to 6.8 million. We're completing our shipments right now and plantings going very well this Spring. And, the excess of trees were snatched up by the apple industry in Washington. And, everybody seems to remain quite enthusiastic about Cosmic Crisp."

Grandy says never before ...

GRANDY ... "This is really a first. As we all know, the apple industry in Washington is the largest in the country and our industry has really collaborated together to launch this new apple variety."

Asked if it's growers planting new acres or growers replacing other varieties, Grandy says ...

GRANDY ... "You know, I'm asked that question often and I think it's really a combination of both. I think there's new ground being planted definitely, and there's quite a bit of grafting over or pulling and replanting new varieties."

She says unfortunately, the trend is moving away from certain varieties like Red and Golden Delicious, but there are other varieties that have been lagging in the market that are also in danger of losing acreage.

Tune in tomorrow to hear what's next for the Cosmic Crisp and when we should see them in grocery stores.

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BL: Welcome to another "Fruit Bites" brought to you by Valent U.S.A. Joining us again is Valent's Allison Walston. And this week Allison, "what's the buzz"

AW: I love spring blossoms and especially all of the bee activity. Native bees, honey bees and bumble bees visiting flowers. An estimated 80,000 colonies of honey bees were brought back to Oregon after pollinating California almonds.

BL: Are honey bees the only pollinators?

AW: Native bees and bumble bees do quite a bit of work as well. Bumble bees are excellent at pollinating blueberries. There is even a newcomer, the solitary blue orchard bee. There is a Bee lab at the USDA in Logan, UT. They have been testing the blue orchard bee in fruit orchards and its rate of pollination.

BL: How long are bees

AW: From March through August, bees will be buzzing around pollinating everything from apples to vegetable seed to watermelons. If your home is in a bee flight path, leave out some water during the hot months. I'm currently building solitary bee homes for my insectary garden.

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

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