May 8, 2023

Midwest Apple introduces EverCrisp successor

The Midwest Apple Improvement Association (MAIA) has introduced a successor to the EverCrisp variety.

MAIA-Mitchell is an advanced and more vibrant coloring strain of its groundbreaking predecessor, MAIA-1. Specimens of which may be marketed as the trademarked EverCrisp, according to a news release.

“This revolutionary chili red apple boasts an impressive color, which begins developing up to 8 weeks earlier than MAIA-1, with up to 88% of the fruit displaying its stunning hue,” MAIA officials said in the release. “It ripens approximately the same time as MAIA-1.”

Consumers can expect the same exceptional qualities found in MAIA-1, including a superior crunchy texture, maximum juiciness, and unparalleled flavor, according to the release.

With a patent pending (USPTO Application Number 18130019), MAIA-Mitchell, which meets strict quality standards, will be marketed as EverCrisp.

MAIA-Mitchell trees will be available in limited supply from MAIA-licensed nurseries.

MAIA-1, marketed as the trademarked EverCrisp, was first released by MAIA in 2014, following the successful controlled cross between Honeycrisp and Fuji apples. The unique variety set the stage for future advancements in apple cultivation, according to the release. The original MAIA-1 seedling tree is in Wabash, Indiana.

Discovered by Bill Pitts in Wayne County, New York, in 2018, MAIA-Mitchell emerged as a limb mutation in a commercial orchard.

Established in the mid-1990s, MAIA was founded with the vision of creating apple varieties specifically tailored to the climate and challenges faced by Midwest growers. The organization also aimed to foster a strong membership community for apple growers of all sizes, extending its reach beyond the Midwest to a global scale.

MAIA represents more than 1,100 members with more than 3.5 million trees spanning the U.S., Canada, and other countries.

PHOTO AT TOP: The Midwest Apple Improvement Association has introduced MAIA-Mitchell, a successor to the EverCrisp variety.