The same company managing nursery propagation of the WA 64 will also steer marketing for the new apple.
Washington State University has tapped International New–Varieties Network, a global consortium of nurseries, to steer worldwide marketing and commercial distribution of the yet-unnamed new apple, the university announced in a news release on Nov. 18.
The decision puts INN in charge of all three stages of bringing the Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink cross to the global marketplace — licensing nurseries to sell trees and budwood, marketing under its eventual trademark, and distribution to global producers.
“All three services are necessary to protect the hard work that went into breeding and selecting this cultivar in Washington,” said Jeremy Tamsen, director of innovation and commercialization for WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences in the release.
The company was chosen for the strength of its proposal, business position in the marketplace and experience bringing new varieties to market, the release said.
“Through our members, we’ve helped bring new variety innovations to growers around the world for nearly 30 years,” said Garry Langford, the company’s general manager. “We look forward to working with the world-renowned WSU apple breeding program to successfully develop WA 64.”
INN rolled out the Aztec Fuji, Modi, Kissabel, Royal Red Honeycrisp and Galaval apples, the release said. The company also helped introduce the Rosy Glow and Lady in Red cultivars into the Pink Lady brand.
Released in 2023, the WA 64 is expected to reach store shelves in 2029.
Only Washington producers may grow the WA 64 within the United States at least until August 2034.
For more information about obtaining licenses for the WA 64, visit the INN website at: inn-varietiesnetwork.com/wa-64.
—by Ross Courtney
