Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/52389
Morning Mist™ Fuji This apple is an early maturing Fuji sport. Discovered in Brewster, Washington, this is one of the best early Fuji selections available on the market today. Maturity is approximately four weeks ahead of standard Fuji. USPP# 16,270 The Washington apple logo incident involved a producer in Chihuahua, Mexico. Ironically, fewer Washington producers are labeling their apples with the Wash- ington logo. Fryhover said he understands the reasons for this. First, since the Apple Commission is no longer promoting apples in the domestic market, packers and marketers have been placing more emphasis on promoting their own brands. Some of the reasons for not using the Washington logo on export apples are logistical. Apple stickers now have two data bars, providing information about food safety and traceability as well as identifying the product. This takes much much of the space on the label and some packers opt to put on just their own brand name rather than the Washington logo. Another difficulty is that when they pack fruit, they don't always know if it will end up on the domestic market or export market, so they can't use two different stickers. Obstacles to using a carton with one or more generic Washington panels on it are the fact that shippers sometimes pack fruit from other states or the Southern Hemisphere and so couldn't use the Washington brand for all the fruit. When a packer uses various colored packs to denote different Washington Extra Fancy grades, the difficulty is multiplied. However, Fryhover said the diminish- ing use of the Washington logo is having an impact in export markets. "Growers have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in this logo. It does have brand equity. It does symbolize quality, and we're losing that brand equity. "I think, from the board's perspective, we need to look at this more to see if there's a way we can build off of the brand equity we have invested in since 1937." Board member Cass Gebbers said he worries about the loss of the logo. For people in overseas markets, it represents good quality fruit that holds up well. "We all have our brands, but it's the strength of the Washington brand that helps us. Davis said the Washington Apple logo is hugely important. "We're losing our identity the way we're currently going. It definitely needs to be a point of discus- sion moving forward on how we change that." • www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER JANUARY 15, 2012 15 Buckeye® Buckeye® Gala that we have seen to date. Buckeye® develops well through the summer heat and the fruit finishes with a bright, full red color. USPP# 10,840 Additional Varieties Ambrosia™ Blondee™ Cameo® Gala: Buckeye® brand Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Granny Smith Jonastar™ Jonagold Pink Lady® Brand RubyMac® Snowsweet® Spartan Zestar!® Gala Ultima Gala® Early Fuji: Morning Mist™ Rising Sun® Braeburn: Kumeu Crimson® Mariri Red™ Brookfield® Gala (Baigent CV) From New Zealand we bring you Brookfield,® the ultimate striped Gala.The bold red stripe over its red background is the obvious improvement. The apple's early color permits proper harvest timing for best storage maturity, flavor retention, and customer satisfaction. USPP# 10,016 Willow Drive Nursery, Inc. Call Toll Free: 1-888-548-7337 3539 Road 5 NW, Ephrata, WA 98823, www.willowdrive.com Gala is the highest coloring Gala Gala Honeycrisp Introduced in 1991, Honeycrisp is creating quite an interest with commercial growers. The well- balanced, sub-acid flavor combined with a crisp, juicy texture make for an enjoyable eating experience. Aztec Fuji® Aztec Fuji® DT2 variety is a high colored Fuji sport from New Zealand. It has the sweet juicy flavor, crisp texture and harvest maturity of standard Fuji. Aztec is a blush type and observations show it to be one of the highest coloring Fuji sports to date. Aztec Fuji® is a protected trademark of Waimea Variety Management Ltd. Willow Drive Nursery Call Now for Availability