May 10, 2017

Phytelligence partners with EverCrisp marketing group

Phytelligence, an agricultural biotechnology company, has partnered with the Midwest Apple Improvement Association (MAIA) – the entity responsible for managing and marketing the MAIA 1 variety, which produces a unique apple branded the EverCrisp.

According to a news release, the partnership allows Phytelligence to propagate and sell MAIA 1 trees, quickly increasing the amount of the highly desired EverCrisp apple in the market and getting more plant material into the hands of awaiting growers. With Phytelligence’s proprietary MultiPHY technology, the company can quickly replenish the depleted MAIA 1 supply with virus clean, true-to-type plants ready for delivery in Spring 2019.

By partnering with Phytelligence, the Midwest Apple Improvement Association is able to quickly fill grower demand by utilizing the 10-40x multiplication rates made possible with the Phytelligence MultiPHY technology. The MultiPHY process gives growers, universities, grower associations and breeders the ability to rapidly gain access to the latest varieties, solving the variety shortage while also enabling them to generate a greater profit by quickly filling all grower requests while the demand is high.

“We are thrilled that Phytelligence is helping meet unmet demand for the MAIA 1 trees,” said Bill Dodd, President of the Midwest Apple Improvement Association. “With the technology available today, growers should receive the immediate benefit of new varieties. There is no reason for new varieties to be rationed due to legacy growing processes. To help growers remain competitive with the latest varieties we need to utilize every technical advantage to bring new and improved apples to consumers. Phytelligence is at the forefront of the latest agricultural technology and we’re proud to partner with them.”

“We’re at the very beginning stages of seeing widespread, rapid propagation of licensed and club varieties with our MultiPHY technology,” said Phytelligence CEO, Ken Hunt. “We’re solving a very real need to quickly supply growers with these high-demand varieties and only Phytelligence can produce the high volumes needed to meet the increasing demand. With Phytelligence, there are no more industry “mix-ups” and our mortality rate is the lowest in the market. Our growers get vigorous, true-to-type plants with full root systems that grow aggressively when planted.”

Most desirable EverCrisp apple characteristics include:

–       Sweet flavor

–       Texture and mouth feel similar to Honeycrisp

–       Resembled Fuji in shape and coloring

–       Better storability

–       Greater apple density

The trademarked MAIA 1 variety is praised for its hardiness when grown in a diverse group of locations across the United State and in Europe, and the resulting apple has drawn Honeycrisp taste comparisons with its robust flavor profile. The variety is a cross between the Fuji and the Honeycrisp; melding the sweet, crisp texture of the Honeycrisp with the storability and outward appearance of a Fuji.

Growers interested in sourcing MAIA 1 trees from Phytelligence should contact Paul Nelson at (509) 860-2400.