Apple growers are calling the new Cosmic Crisp a gamechanger. It’s the hottest new variety of apple to be launched in 20 years, a hybrid between the Honeycrisp and the Enterprise. It will be hitting grocery stores on December 1st.

“I’ve never seen an apple prettier in the orchard than these things are.”

Aaron Clark, Apple Grower, Yakima

It’s the largest launch of a single apple variety ever and it’s backed by a $10.5 million marketing budget. Apple growers have high hopes for it.

The Cosmic Crisp is also the first apple bred in Washington State, which is surprising since the state grows the majority of United States’ apples.

Growers are hoping the Cosmic Crisp will be as popular and generate the same kind of sales as the “Moneycrisp” (their nickname for the Honeycrisp).

Thanks to katu.com I’ve learned there’s actually a lot more to apples than meets the eye, e.g., Washington State grows 12 billion apples each Fall and growers need a license to buy the trees. They also have to pay a royalty on sales of the fruit.

Scroll down for more info on the four billion-dollar apple market.

Everything you need to know about the apple market

• Apples are a $2.5 billion a year business in Washington State alone ($4 billion nationwide)
• Washington grows 60% of the nation’s supply.
• Other top apple-producing states are New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Virginia, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, Idaho.
• The top 10 apple varieties sold in the U.S. are Gala (23%), Red Delicious (20%), Fuji (13%), Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Cripp’s Pink/Pink Lady®, Braeburn, Jazz®.
• Washington has 1,500 apple growers and 175,000 acres of orchards
• Nationwide there are 7,500 growers and 322,000 acres of orchards
• Apples are exported to 60 countries.

And more on the Cosmic Crisp, including WHY we need a new variety

“A new apple brings excitement. It can reinvigorate a market and industry.”

TONI LYNN ADAMS, WASHINGTON APPLE COMMISSION

• Growers have planted 12 million Cosmic Crisp apple trees.
• 450,000 40-pound boxes will be available for sale this year but that number will jump to 2 million boxes in 2020 and more than 21 million by 2026.
• It’s called Cosmic Crisp because of its bright yellowish dots which look like distant stars.
• It’s an exceptionally good eating apple because it’s ultra-crispy, very juicy, and has a good balance of sweetness and tartness.
• While it’s similar in taste to a Honeycrisp, it has been bred to be more longlasting and easier to store versus the Honeycrisp, 20% of which go bad before they make it to market.

Bottom Line.

I love apples and eat at least one a day. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the Cosmic Crisp.

Have a good weekend everyone!