Apr 1, 2014

WSU uses drawing to distribute new apple

Washington State University (WSU) will hold a drawing to determine which Washington growers will be the first to plant the newest apple developed by the university’s Apple Breeding Program.

The university has chosen to distribute its newest variety, called WA 38, through a random drawing to facilitate fair and equitable distribution of a limited number of trees among Washington growers in the first year of the release. Working with a number of Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute-affiliated nurseries and other producers to increase certified WA 38 planting stock, WSU anticipates that there will be a small number of trees available in 2016; in 2017, supply should exceed 300,000.

Online applications for the drawing will be accepted April 1 through May 31. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by June 30. The distribution process will serve the needs of both small and large growers through its two-tier structure. Each applicant will select a tier. Tier 1 will consist of approximately 12 lots of 3,000-5,000 trees each, and Tier 2 will consist of approximately 12 lots of up to 20,000 trees each. WSU will offer licenses until all available trees have been allocated. Growers are required to certify that they are Washington state residents with sufficient land to support the number of trees planted.

Each application will be assigned a number. Using a random number generator, the first 12 numbers drawn in each tier will be offered licenses. Applicants will have 30 days to sign a license agreement. Growers who are not allocated trees in the initial drawing will be able to purchase WA 38 trees as they become available in 2018-19.

For application instructions, details about the drawing or to submit an application, click here.