US growers are preparing to introduce a brand new apple variety that has been developed in a lab, trademarked and focus-group tested.
The new variety has been dubbed Cosmic Crisp, a name inspired by white pores contrasting against its red skin.
Trademarked and focus group-tested, Cosmic Crisp was developed by a Washington State University lab over the last 20 years.
For at least one decade, it will be available for planting only to Washington farmers.
Cosmic Crisp will join Kiku, Ambrosia, JAZZ, Opal, Braeburn, Pacific Rose, Snapdragon, SweetTango and other trademarked varieties aiming to take a bigger slice of the consumer market, which already includes the well-established Fuji, Gala and HoneyCrisp.
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Many of these varieties were developed through breeding programs in New Zealand, Canada, Japan and Europe.
US farmers have responded by partnering with universities.
WSU is developing apples beyond the Cosmic Crisp, while Cornell University introduced the Snapdragon and RubyFrost, and the University of Minnesota made its mark with the highly successful HoneyCrisp, which became one of the best sellers across the US.
Next year, the first Cosmic Crisp trees will be planted with the target of having the first sales in 2019.
