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\\u201cIt\\u2019s the juiciness that stands out with the Cosmic Crisp\\xae apple. It\'s unusual to have an apple that\\u2019s just that juicy.\\u201d\\xa0

- Kate Evans (16:34-16:42)

Kate Evans, a professor at the Department of Horticulture at Washington State University, has been instrumental in leading the University\'s apple breeding program within its Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center.

The center is focused on researching tree fruits from the horticultural perspective as well as looking at aspects related to pathology and entomology. The results of their research are shared with the produce industry, and the center works to educate the next generation of researchers and industry members.\\xa0

\\u201cThe Cosmic Crisp\\xae apple continues to stand out to my team. We\\u2019ve tasted every fruit in our lab, but we still go back and have an extra bite at the end of the day.\\u201d - Kate Evans (15:58-16:19)

The Birth of the Cosmic Crisp\\xae Apple

The process of breeding a new apple is pretty straightforward. Researchers take two parents based on the qualities they\\u2019re looking to improve. They take the pollen from one variety and use it to pollenize the stigmas of the other variety to produce the seed resulting from that cross-breeding.\\xa0

The apples they produce must demonstrate a level of robustness that helps them survive the refrigeration, packing, and other processes required to bring fruits to market.\\xa0

The Cosmic Crisp\\xae is the Best of Both Worlds

The Cosmic Crisp\\xae apple was tested against the popular Gala and Honeycrisp apples, and researchers received positive results from consumers on the apple\\u2019s appearance, taste, and texture.\\xa0

The apple stands out for its high level of juiciness, and the flavor of the Cosmic Crisp\\xae apple is a balance between tartness and sweetness, giving consumers the best of both worlds.\\xa0

The Cosmic Crisp\\xae apple is a beautiful fruit. The fruit got its name from the deep red color of the apple combined with the white pores in the peel, giving consumers the impression of looking at the cosmos.\\xa0

\\u201cWe have tart apples, we have super sweet apples, and then we have the Cosmic Crisp\\xae, which is the best of both worlds.\\u201d\\xa0

- Lori Taylor (17:37-17:43)

The Cosmic Crisp\\xae apple bakes well, but you can enjoy it raw or by adding slices to a charcuterie board to pair with your favorite cheeses. Another important characteristic of this apple is that it\\u2019s slow to oxidize, which means it won\\u2019t brown quickly.\\xa0

The introduction of the Cosmic Crisp\\xae apple is another example of the delicious new varieties of fruits making their way to local grocery stores.\\xa0

As more consumers taste different varieties of apples and other fruits, they can expand their palates when it comes to choosing healthy fruits and vegetables. To learn more about the Cosmic Crisp\\xae apple, visit www.cosmiccrisp.com to see what\\u2019s in store.\\xa0

How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!\\xa0
• Reach out to us - we\\u2019d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.\\xa0

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