Brand New 20 Year Old Apple

 A new, late-ripening apple named WineCrisp™ - which carries the Vf gene for scab resistance - was developed over the past 20 plus years through classical breeding techniques - not genetic engineering. According to University of Illinois Plant Geneticist Schuyler Korban - being resistant to apple scab is a big plus for growers.

 (Korban) “It has resistance to apple scab which means that you can grow this apple just like Juliette with significantly reduced amount of chemical sprays, fungicides, scab is the #1 disease that you have to spray for 15 to 20 times a season, so you do not have to do that.”

Which means a huge savings for the apple grower - and because the Winecrisp ripens about two weeks later than the industry standard Red Delicious - it extends the growing season and can be harvested all the way through to the end of October.

 Korban says it’s good in cold storage, too, which is another big plus,  and can be kept for eight to nine months. The WineCrisp has a flat rather than glossy finish to its deep red color. Because the University of Illinois funded the WineCrisp research - licenses to propagate trees will be made available to apple growers through the University of Illinois.