Cosmic Crisp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cosmic Crisp |
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| Genus | Malus |
| Species | Malus domestica |
| Hybrid parentage | Honeycrisp × Enterprise |
| Cultivar | 'WA 38' |
| Marketing names | Cosmic Crisp |
| Origin |  Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension CenterWenatchee, Washington, United States |
The Cosmic Crisp is a special kind of apple known for being super crisp and juicy. Its official name is 'WA 38'. Scientists at Washington State University (WSU) in the United States started creating this apple in 1997. It took many years of hard work to develop it, with Bruce Barritt leading the early research and Kate Evans finishing the project.
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What Makes Cosmic Crisp Special?
The Cosmic Crisp apple is a mix of two other popular apples: the Honeycrisp and the Enterprise. It was created to have the great crunch and juiciness of the Honeycrisp. It also has the ability of the Enterprise apple to ripen later and stay fresh for a long time.
Its Unique Look and Taste
When scientists developed this apple, they focused on how strong and long-lasting it would be. They didn't just focus on its looks. The Cosmic Crisp has a dark red skin that is mostly the same color all over. It has firm flesh and stays fresh for a long time.
Small, light spots on the apple's skin look like stars against its deep red color. This reminded people of a galaxy in the night sky. That's why it was named the Cosmic Crisp! It is the first widely grown apple variety developed right in Washington state.
A New Favorite Apple
This apple ripens around the same time as the Red Delicious apple. Many people think it will become even more popular than the Red Delicious. After 20 years of development, Cosmic Crisp apples became available to buy in 2019.
Experts have praised the Cosmic Crisp. The New York Times called it "dramatically dark, richly flavored and explosively crisp and juicy." They even said it might be "the most promising and important apple of the future." FoodRepublic.com noted it is "firmer than the Honeycrisp, but not too firm." It also has a good balance of sugar and sourness. This makes it better than varieties like Red Delicious, Gala, and Fuji.
Washington produces 70% of all apples in the U.S. People there are hoping the Cosmic Crisp will be a huge success in the market.
How Cosmic Crisp Apples Grow
The first Cosmic Crisp trees for selling apples were planted in spring 2017. Apple farms in Washington state ordered 12 million trees before they were even planted! For at least ten years, only growers in Washington can plant this special apple.
Farmers pay a small fee for each tree they buy. They also pay a fee for each box of apples they sell. This helps support the research that created the apple. There was so much interest that in 2014, WSU had to hold a lottery. They planned to give out 300,000 young trees, but farmers asked for 4 million! Within three years, over 13 million Cosmic Crisp trees had been planted.
Spreading the Word: Marketing Cosmic Crisp
A big campaign was launched to tell people about the Cosmic Crisp. About $10 million was spent to promote the apple. This money came from Washington State's agriculture funds.
The main slogans for the apple were "Imagine the Possibilities" and "The Apple of Big Dreams." This was one of the biggest marketing campaigns ever for an apple! It included working with people who are popular on social media. It also partnered with a children's play about Johnny Appleseed. The name "Cosmic Crisp" is a trademark. This means no one else can use the name without permission.
The apples first went on sale in grocery stores in Seattle on December 1, 2019. The first store to sell them was a QFC store at University Village.
