This new apple is supposedly out of this world.
A new variety called the Cosmic Crisp will be available for picking at grocery stores beginning Dec. 1 — and growers say it will be better than the Honeycrisp.
Named for the bright yellow dots on its skin — which resemble stars — the fruit was developed at Washington State University in a nearly two-decade undertaking.
“It’s ultra-crisp, very juicy and has a good balance of sweetness and tartness,” said Kate Evans, who runs the breeding program at the university.
It also keeps for a long time in storage or the fridge, Evans added.
Growers have already planted 12 million Cosmic Crisp trees and 450,000 40-pound boxes will be available for sale this year. By 2020, more than 2 million boxes will be available.
At it’s core, the fruit is a cross between the disease-resistant Enterprise and the crunchy Honeycrisp.
Though the bulk of the country’s apples are grown in Washington, this is the first variety to be bred in the state.
Washington state growers, who paid for the breeding research at the university, will have exclusive rights to sell the variety for the first 10 years.
With Post wires