It’s pink, has a great sweet/tart flavor, and picks in early October in Washington State. It’s the early Pink Lady® Brand Apple and its impact in orchards and the nation’s supermarkets is sure to be measured in a number of important ways.
With indeed a look and flavor identical to the ‘standard’ Cripps Pink apple, this earlier sister to the apple already wearing the Pink Lady® Trademark, has one other important difference. Where the standard Cripps Pink apple sometimes requires brief storage time for its sugars and acid to balance, Early Pink Lady is ready for market right away. Actually, right off the tree!
“This is already a grower favorite because of its early harvest and before long it will be making more consumers happy because it extends the season for the Pink Lady® Brand Apple,” says Lynnell Brand, president of Brandt’s Fruit Trees Inc. in Yakima, Washington.
“Consumers will see instantly that being early hasn’t changed the quality of this apple. It measures right up there when it comes to the unique and market-proven flavor, crisp texture and a one-of-a-kind pink color which isn’t distinguishable from the original,” Brandt says. “The major difference comes in its average harvest date which is as much as three week earlier.”
While consumers enjoy an early taste of Pink Lady® Brand Apples in the Fall, the major overall impact of the increasing volume of this apple is the way it helps to expand the overall marketing window.
“Maintaining a place on the supermarket shelf is very important and this earlier Pink Lady® Brand Apple is a vital step in reaching that goal,” Brandt says. “When put together with new storage techniques for standard Cripps Pink, and fruit from important markets such as Chile and New Zealand, that goal is now within reach.”
This earlier picking apple is also critical to growers because it has been the last apple harvested since its introduction in many parts of Washington State. Being picked in late October/early November has at times proven to be somewhat risky in this area with significant losses to freezing temperatures in 2002 and 2005.
“Cripps Pink has been a tremendous success story for its growers with impressive returns in the marketplace,” Brandt says. “However, its late harvest was sometimes a challenge but this earlier selection will help the late fall be a less stressful time for the growers.”
“There’s also a very real possibility this earlier maturing apple will allow for an increase in the number of the areas where it can be grown. There are a number of places outside of Washington State where growers may be able to add it to their other apple varieties.”
For additional information contact Lynnell Brandt at 509-728-2518 or Lynnell@brandtsfruittrees.com
Source: Pink Lady America
