Cosmic Crisp in Washington
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. The Cosmic Crisp apple, originally developed at Washington State University, will continue to be exclusively grown in Washington state for another six years.
Jeremy Tamsen, senior director of innovation and entrepreneurship within WSU’s Office of Research, says the Cosmic Crisp’s patent was scheduled to expire next year …
TAMSEN … “The way WSU created this intellectual property protection around Cosmic Crisp and the brand is sort of two-pronged. First, we have the plant patent. The anticipated expiration is in 2032 which is where we’ve extended the Washington exclusivity through, but then we also have trademark protection on the Cosmic Crisp brand itself.”
That, Tamsen says is important …
TAMSEN … “The value there is that after the plant patent expires we will still have control over who can sell what, as Cosmic Crisp. And that allows WSU to continue to enforce strict brand standards, and quality standards specifically around the apples that are sold under that brand name.”
Moving forward, Tamsen says it’s a quality issue …
TAMSEN … “So, although we won’t be able to control who grows it beyond the expiration of the plant patten, we will still be able to control that brand name and the quality standards that go around that brand name.”
First released in 2019, Tamsen says exclusivity was important for us to give the Washington state growers a head start.
