New York Apple Creations to be Named Today

It's like that special moment when you finally decide what to name your child.

Today, two apple creations made at the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva will be named at 12:15 p.m. today (Aug. 1) during an event at the Ag Station. Formerly known as NY1 and NY2, the apples will receive their formal names and marketing logos for them will be unveiled.

Brown

Cornell University officials say one of the apples "is crispy, sweet and fun" while the other "will bring fresh, juicy comfort well into the winter." They were developed by Cornell University Horticulture Professor and apple breeder extraordinaire Susan Brown at the Ag Station, a facility she now helps direct.

According to a Cornell news release, Brown, who brought fruit-loving consumers the highly popular Fortune and Autumncrisp varieties (as well as 10 sweet and one tart cherry varieties), has been developing her newest apples for more than a decade. Conventionally bred, her newest creations promise to excite the palette and soothe the soul, and expand New York’s world-leading apple crop portfolio – a win for both growers and consumers in this region and beyond.

Joining Brown in the naming ceremony will be state Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine, apple grower and vice chair of the board of director of New York Apples Growers Jeff Crist and Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean Kathryn Boor.

Cornell officials say the new apple names were developed following extensive consumer research by New York Apple Growers, Cornell’s partner in marketing the new varieties. Taste testing was done to help determine positioning and branding for each variety, and 1,000 consumers were surveyed online to assist in the name selection.

Marketing experts from New York Apple Growers will also be on hand to help explain how NY1 and NY2 (and that’s the last time we’ll use those names) will make their way to select New York Apple Growers farm stands this fall, ahead of their rollout in grocery stores in 2015.

The naming event takes place as part of the 2013 annual Fruit Field Day at the Ag Station. Each year, fruit growers, consultants and industry personnel tour field plots and learn about the latest research and extension efforts being carried out by Cornell.

This year’s event will focus on all commodities of key importance to New York's $350 million fruit industry: apples, grapes, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and other berry crops, plus hops.