It’s Cosmic Crisp® Season!

Have you had the chance to try Cosmic Crisp® WA 38 cv brand apple yet? This new apple variety is still quite new, with 2020 being only the apple’s second year on the market! So what’s so special about this variety? Let’s dive in.

What’s the story?

You may know the apple as Cosmic Crisp®, which is the apple’s brand name, however to apple breeders and researchers, the apple is called WA38. WA38 has been in the making since the mid 1990’s – over 20 years! An apple breeder and horticulturalist at Washington State University named Bruce Barritt, set out to discover an apple that was firm, crisp and juicy that consumers would love. After many years of research and development, WA38 was born and Barritt and his team knew it was going to be big.

WA38 was developed just like any other apple variety, through natural cross pollination methods. It was a cross between two varieties – Enterprise and the famous Honeycrisp. Enterprise is a firm and crisp apple with mild tartness. It is very hardy and grower-friendly and tastes great after it has been stored for a couple of months. The other parent is Honeycrisp (which we all know) a super sweet and extremely juicy apple that is a popular choice among apple lovers everywhere. Combine the two and voila – WA38 was born!

When is the apple available?

Stemilt harvests WA38 in October, when many other varieties are coming off the trees. So why is it not available right after harvest? Cosmic Crisp® is an apple that benefits from being stored for a month or two after harvest as it allows the fruit’s starch levels to convert to sugars, making the apple super sweet! Cosmic Crisp® is picked with high starch levels, so the longer the apple sits, the more the starches will convert, and the result is a super sweet, crunchy and delicious apple!

Why can a Cosmic Crisp® apple do? What does it taste like?

Cosmic Crisp® is a large, juicy, red apple that has a firm and crisp texture that provides ample sweetness, making it an excellent apple for eating and baking. It is a bi-colored apple that comes with the perfect flavor and texture balance and long storage capabilities. In fact, Cosmic Crisp® can be stored up to a year while still maintaining its sweet flavor and nice crunch! The apple is also naturally resistant to browning, making it a great apple for entertaining.

What recipes should I try with Cosmic Crisp®?

Great question. We rounded up a few of our faves based on the apple’s taste and capabilities.

Charcuterie Board – Make your own charcuterie board or grazing table! Cosmic Crisp® apples are slow to oxidize, meaning they make great snacking apples. Plus, they pair well with a creamy, brie cheese!

Apple Pie – Cosmic Crisp® would make a wonderful addition to an apple pie recipe. This apple is juicy, sweet and would add the perfect flavor to make your pie taste extraordinary.

Apple, Sage & Cauliflower Gnocchi – Like we said, this apple also handles heat when you cook with it! Add it into this sage and cauliflower Gnocchi recipe for a delish dinner meal.