NYAG LLC, better know as NEW YORK APPLE GROWERS is pleased to announce it has now completed negotiations with Cornell University to obtain the exclusive license to two new apple varieties.
These two exciting varieties, currently known as NY 1 and NY 2, have been developed by the Cornell Apple Breeding program led by Dr. Susan Brown. Both apples have excellent appearance, flavor and crispness that consumers will demand.
NYAG has surveyed all New York growers regarding their interest in joining NYAG. There have been positive responses from 170 growers including 70 grower direct marketers. These growers expressed a desire to plant about 1,000 acres of the NY 1 and NY 2 cultivars. Currently, only New York growers are eligible to join NYAG and to plant, grow and market the licensed varieties.
NYAG will be contracting with grower members to manage the distribution of the acreage and ultimately the packing and marketing of the fruit. NYAG will be sublicensing packing houses and marketers in order to offer premium returns to growers for the sale of this premium fruit. Revenues derived from royalties of these initial varieties will be shared with Cornell University to provide funding for breeding work to create future selections suited to the NYS climate. As a result, NYAG Growers will be funding directly into the apple breeding program.
New York Growers have now joined the trend of offering “managed varieties” which is an effort to provide consumers with exciting new varieties and to support the breeding programs that provides these varieties. Organizations like NYAG are the new vehicle to take new technology from research to commercialization; thus allowing technology and new products to be introduced in an expedited fashion. Apple breeding, propagation and commercialization of new apple varieties has always been a protracted process and NYAG is pleased to be part of this new way of doing business to accelerate the process.
The NYAG Cornell relationship will create a win/win/win situation for NYAG Growers, Cornell University, and ultimately, the apple consumer. The foundation has now been set for NYAG growers to build upon into the future.
Source: New York Apple Growers
