Cosmic Crisp Popularity
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Since its introduction five years ago, the Washington-grown Cosmic Crisp apple has proven itself to be the next big variety as its popularity grows.
Michael Schadler, president of the Washington Apple Commission, says its increase in volume has been pretty steady since it first hit the market …
SCHADLER … “We’re still in kind of the period with Cosmic Crisp where, you know, it really ramped up big on volume and in almost an unprecedented way over the last five years. So, I think, you know, consumers in the market is still catching up a little bit on that variety and once things catch up I think it’s a variety that will do well from a market perspective and from a pricing perspective. But we’re not quite there yet.”
And Schadler hopes they can also help Cosmic Crisp on the international side as it continues to increase in volume …
SCHADLER … “We really are, from WAC’s strategic perspective, wanting to push that variety in international markets to introduce it to consumers because it’s such a great eating apple. And I think, you know, it ships well and as we ramp up volume as an industry continually because even though it’s ramped up a lot already and it’s about tied with Fuji for the number five variety, we see that continuing to increase to the point where in the future, it’s probably going to be a top three apple for the industry.”
The Cosmic Crisp is a cross between Honeycrisp and Enterprise apples with a similar crispness but a more balanced sweetness and tartness, and excellent storage qualities.
