Cosmic Crisp, Washington's Newest Apple, Now Available In Stores

SEATTLE, WA —Washington shoppers are the first in the nation to get their hands on a new apple variety created right here in the Evergreen State. Development of the Cosmic Crisp started at Washington State University more than two decades ago, blending two of the most popular apple varieties, Honeycrisp and Enterprise, into a new hybrid.

The Seattle Times reports small batches of the apple have been available at farm stands, but December 1 marked the beginning of its national rollout. The first shipments arrived at Seattle QFC locations over the weekend, and shoppers should be able to find them at all QFC and Fred Meyer locations this week. Other stores that ordered the apples should see them soon, and out-of-state shipments begin later this month.

KIRO 7 reports 70 percent of apples sold in America are grown in Washington, but the Cosmic Crisp is the first variety bred in the state. According to KOMO News, growers intend to sell 450,000 boxes of the apple this year and millions more in the years ahead. 2019's apple crop was already among the largest ever recorded in the state, with an estimated 138.2 million 40-pound boxes harvested.