The wait is over. This fall, Minnesotans will be able to get their first taste of the newest apple developed by apple breeding team at the University of Minnesota (UMN).
First Kiss dates back to the late 1990s when UMN’s apple breeders David Bedford and Jim Luby set out to breed an apple with the taste and texture of a ‘Honeycrisp’ that would be ready to harvest by Labor Day weekend.
To accomplish this, they crossed Honeycrisp, known for its juicy texture, with an early ripening variety from the University of Arkansas known as ‘AA44.’ After years of rigorous trials at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Horticultural Research Center, First Kiss emerged as a clear winner.
“With First Kiss, we got the best of both worlds,” explained David Bedford, a research scientist in the UMN’s Department of Horticultural Science, part of the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences. “Its crisp texture and spritely flavor make it an excellent choice for fresh eating and its early harvest date means Minnesota apple lovers can enjoy their favorite Minnesota grown fruit sooner than ever.”
First Kiss is a premium apple with striking characteristics — it features a beautiful scarlet red color; it has a lively, tart flavor; and it is ready to harvest at the very start of autumn.
While First Kiss will be available this fall, supply will be limited but will increase over the next few years as the trees mature and bear more fruit.
“We’re excited for Minnesotans to get their first taste of First Kiss this fall,” said Jim Luby, UMN Professor of Horticultural Science. “Through two decades of evaluating hundreds of crosses and thousands of trees, First Kiss distinguished itself throughout our research and trials as a superior, early fall apple.”
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