Midwest Apple Improvement Association Illinois Specialty Crops January 10, 2019 Midwest Apple Improvement Association ‘Making the best better’

In the mid 1990’s, Ohio fruitgrower Mitch Lynd and Indiana fruitgrower and nurseryman Ed Fackler foresaw the current situation of cultivars developed elsewhere not being available to Midwestern growers. It was also noted that varieties developed elsewhere were unlikely to suit the climate and challenges faced by growers in the Midwest. They took the initiative, contacting people that might share their concern and the Midwest Apple Improvement Association was formed.

In the spring of 1998, volunteers made the first crosses, with the breeding parents chosen for their cropping reliability, disease resistance, and flavor/quality attributes.

Breeding has continued each year since and well over 50,000 seedlings have been distributed to members to grow, fruit, and evaluate.

Five varieties have been released and there will be more.

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MAIA releases to date by ripening order

• MAIA-12 Summerset™ • MAIA-11 Rosalee ™ • MAIA-L Ludacrisp ™ • MAIA-Z Sweet Zinger ™ • MAIA-1 EverCrisp ™ .

MAIA releases to date by ripening order

• MAIA-12 Summerset™ • MAIA-11 Rosalee ™ • MAIA-L Ludacrisp ™ • MAIA-Z Sweet Zinger ™ • MAIA-1 EverCrisp ™

None are perfect… .

Summerset ™ - ripens with Honeycrisp . Compliments Honeycrisp

• Preferred by ~50% of customers at harvest • Fewer growing challenges • Does not bitter pit • Little cracking • Good packout

• Will drop under hot/wet conditions • Retain ™? ™ • Southern adaptability?

• Maintaining condition • 1-MCP for storage/sales after a month . . . MAIA-11 . Rosalee ™ apples . .

Ripens? Last week of September? Mid-October? They become good, then they become exceptional

Beware Retain ™ unless you need another late October apple .

• Tender, super crispy long maintaining texture • Mildly sweet with floral tones and a little acid

• Requires thinning • Treat similar to Golden Delicious

• Friendly growth habit • Susceptible to fireblight and scab

• NY is getting excited about it MAIA-11 Rosalee ™ MAIA-L ’Ludacrisp™’ A flavor apple… . Big Deal? Could be… ...it is a great name to go along with an attractive, distinctive apple

Tropical fruit flavor – ‘Juicy-Fruit gum’ – An attractive apple • When well grown…

• Climatic adaptation? • Does well in Columbus OH • October ripening, optimum harvest date uncertain • Growers must wait until flavor exhibits as it does not develop in storage • Friendly tree and bearing habit • High hopes and lots of interest • Mitch Lynd – “The apple I envisioned when I started the organization.” MAIA-L Ludacrisp ™

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MAIA-Z ’Sweet Zinger ™’ – another flavor apple, this one sweet/tart MAIA-Z ‘Sweet Zinger™’ .

Goldrush X Sweet 16 cross

Great flavor with tartness

• Ripens mid-October • A bit like Goldrush, doesn’t go overripe • Vf? Uncertain

EverCrisp ™ is working out…

EverCrisp™ is working out... • Early adopters are planting more trees • International partners are excercising their option • Touring in 2018 they saw what they wanted in regards to appearance and productivity

EverCrisp ™ is working out... • Consistent experiences across many climatic zones • Tho a late apple, matured in Leelanau MI in 2018 @ the 45th parallel • The season needs to be considered a feature, not a flaw • “…And our panel of taste-testers considered it the best of the bunch, no contest. • Tasting notes: In-your-face candied-apple sweetness, with a background tang and monstrous crunch. Exceptional.” ‘The Search for the Next Honeycrisp Apple’ - Bloomberg 12/14/18

Evaluating Cameo, Ambrosia, Ruby Frost, Goldrush, Suncrisp, Snap Dragon, and EverCrisp™

. Where things stand the road ahead…

• Five varieties, one late August/early September - one late September/mid-October – three mid/late October . Where things stand

• Five varieties, one late August/early September - one late September/mid-October – three mid/late October

• Nothing released in the critical mid-September time slot . Where things stand

• Five varieties, one late August/early September - one late September/mid-October – three mid/late October

• Nothing released in the critical mid-September time slot • There are contenders, a red tart and a yellow sweet . Where things stand

• Five varieties, one late August/early September - one late September/mid-October – three mid/late October

• Nothing released in the critical mid-September time slot • There are contenders, a red tart and a yellow sweet • Several hundred MAIA-1 crosses, including MAIA-1 by Pixie Crunch are set to fruit in 2019 - we will be evaluating them aggressively looking for a mid- September winner . Where things stand • Five varieties, one late August/early September - one late September/mid-October – three mid/late October

• Nothing released in the critical mid-September time slot • There are contenders, a red tart and a yellow sweet • Several hundred MAIA-1 crosses, including MAIA-1 by Pixie Crunch are set to fruit in 2019 - we will be evaluating them aggressively looking for a mid- September winner • Evaluation of selections for hard cider is an ongoing project • Crossing high quality desert apples results in few ‘bitter-sharp’ ascensions .

The future?

• An apple a week from mid-August thru November? .

The future?

• An apple a week from mid-August thru November? • It was the vision of Mitch Lynd for his You-Pick operation .

The future?

• An apple a week from mid-August thru November? • It was the vision of Mitch Lynd for his You-Pick operation • Currently being debated how fast and what standards .

The future?

• An apple a week from mid-August thru November? • It was the vision of Mitch Lynd for his You-Pick operation • Currently being debated how fast and what standards • Is the standard the commonly available commercial varieties or is it MAIA-1 (EverCrisp™ apples) .

The future?

• An apple a week from mid-August thru November? • It was the vision of Mitch Lynd for his You-Pick operation • Currently being debated how fast and what standards • Is the standard the commonly available commercial varieties or is it MAIA-1 (EverCrisp™ apples) • Is ’commercial’ appearance a necessary attribute? • Yellow apples? . What’s a grower to do?

Retail? Full speed ahead – these apples are better than what you are offering you customers now . What’s a grower to do?

Retail? Full speed ahead – these apples are better than what you are offering you customers now

Wholesale? EverCrisp™ apples are making it and there is still time to be an early adopter – there is great interest in Ludacrisp™ .

MAIA does not sell trees • We will license your favored tree provider .

MAIA does not sell trees • We will license your favored tree provider • Rootstocks and scionwood are scarce • Establish a relationship with a nursery and get rootstocks ordered .

MAIA does not sell trees • We will license your favored tree provider • Rootstocks and scionwood are scarce • Establish a relationship with a nursery and get rootstocks ordered • Do not expect trees to be available ‘next spring’ – that’s not the way it works anymore… . On January 1, 2019 The Midwest Apple Improvement Association took the next step in its evolution when Bill Dodd took the helm as full time president. Questions?