Hawke's Bay growers gathered at Johnny Appleseed's test block to review one of the most popular apples grown in recent times. The apple has come from Washington State University's apple breeding programme and is sold under the Cosmic Crisp brand name. American growers have planted 13 million trees in just three years, removing significant plantings of Red Delicious in the process.
Jack Hughes, from Fruition Horticulture has been contracted to help advise growers on managing the new variety and the optimum harvest time in New Zealand. Hughes discussed the opportunity of a one-pick harvest. Being such a highly coloured apple means pickers cannot easily distinguish the fruit's maturity so one pick becomes extremely efficient.
Source: nzherald.co.nz
Photo source: Cosmiccrisp.com
