by Dana Leilehua Yuen
The latest apple variety to start coming to the American market is the Cosmic Crisp. Released for market in the fall of last year, it’s a cross between Honeycrisp (the official state fruit of Minnesota!) and Enterprise. Named for the star-like lenticels dotting the deep red skin, I’m sure SOMEone involved in its development was a Trekkie.
Even more crisp than the Honeycrisp, and long-lasting like the Enterprise, it is expected to take over a large part of the Red Delicious market share. The old standby, which helped make Washington State a leader in the apple industry, also helped that industry collapse, through over-reliance on a single cultivar.
If you remember the Red Delicious of your childhood as being far more delicious, you are right. The fruit originated in 1880 and enjoyed great popularity, but genetic drift and mutations have resulted in the variety tending toward a more starchy and bland taste. The Cosmic Crisp seeks to rectify that.
NPR has a podcast on the apple that you may enjoy.
Whether you have the new Cosmic Crisp, or other varieties on hand, in addition to eating them out of hand, you’ll enjoy Geraldine’s apple recipes. It’s logical!