How 8 Fruits Were Designed And Bred To Be Perfect I Business Insider Marathon
Business Insider・39 minutes read
Washington State University developed the Cosmic Crisp apple to replace the Red Delicious, investing over $500 million in its development process. The apple, bred from Honeycrisp and Enterprise varieties, is expected to dominate the industry with its long shelf life and premium pricing.
Insights
- Washington State University invested over $500 million to develop the Cosmic Crisp apple, a successor to the Red Delicious, focusing on taste, texture, and long shelf life to dominate the apple industry.
- Unique fruits like Payas and Nan durians face challenges in distribution and climate change impact, while the Cavendish banana's vulnerability to TR4 disease prompts genetic modification research for resistance, shaping global fruit markets and food security.
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Recent questions
What is the Cosmic Crisp apple?
A new apple variety developed to replace Red Delicious.
How much does the Cosmic Crisp apple cost?
$3 to $5 per pound, twice the price of standard varieties.
Where are Ruby Roman grapes grown?
In greenhouses in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan.
What are the benefits of eating payas?
Rich in nutrients like vitamin C, fiber, and potassium.
How are golden kiwis different from green kiwis?
Golden kiwis last longer and have higher prices.
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Summary
00:00
Cosmic Crisp: Apple Innovation Dominates Market
- Washington State University spent over $500 million to develop the Cosmic Crisp apple in response to the declining popularity of the Red Delicious apple.
- Bruce Barrett led the breeding of the Cosmic Crisp apple to create a fruit with a sweet taste and nice crunch, aiming to replace the Red Delicious.
- The Cosmic Crisp apple needed to last at least 12 months to align with the apple industry's peak season in the fall.
- The Cosmic Crisp apple was bred from the Honeycrisp and Enterprise apples for their crispness and storage qualities.
- The WSU team conducted extensive tests over 11 years to evaluate the Cosmic Crisp apple's size, shape, color, crunchiness, juiciness, and tartness.
- The Cosmic Crisp apple was named for its Galactic-looking skin and is expected to dominate the industry.
- Washington Farmers have grown 12,000 acres of Cosmic Crisp trees, investing $10.5 million in marketing the apple.
- The Cosmic Crisp apple sells for $3 to $5 per pound, twice the price of standard varieties, and is available in stores like Walmart and Kroger's.
- In Japan, Ruby Roman grapes are meticulously inspected for size, color, and sugar content, with premium bunches selling for up to $450.
- Ruby Roman grapes are grown in greenhouses in Ishikawa prefecture, with farmers controlling factors like light, temperature, and fruit thinning to ensure quality.
27:20
"Mexican Payas: Nutritious, Rare, and Valuable"
- Payas can be cleaned at a rate of 3,000 to 4,000 per day, with a good batch potentially worth $2,000 to $2,700.
- Payas are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, fiber, potassium, iron, and calcium, with omega-3 in their seeds, coming in white, red, purple, and yellow colors.
- Spoilage leads to varied distribution methods, impacting prices, with Manuel selling payas at a stand he's operated with his wife for seven years.
- Payas are sold locally in Mexico, with prices varying based on size and location, fetching higher prices when rushed to the city.
- Paya delivery companies like Andres and Juan Pablo distribute payas from wholesalers to customers in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco.
- Payas are rare outside Mexico due to quick spoilage, with only a few companies willing to ship them abroad, doubling the price for customers.
- Climate change threatens cacti like payas, with a study indicating potential extinction risks for 31% of cactus species by 2050.
- Thailand's durian industry thrives, with Nan durians being the most expensive, known for their refined taste and farming techniques.
- Nan durians require meticulous care, with farmers using fresh water, constant monitoring, and hand-picking ripe fruits, impacting their high cost.
- Zespri's Sun Gold kiwis from New Zealand are a premium product, requiring careful cultivation, hand-harvesting, and strict quality control, leading to high prices and limited availability.
49:42
"Kiwi and Banana Threats and Solutions"
- Golden kiwis last longer than green kiwis, with ripe green kiwis lasting up to 5 days and golden kiwis up to 7 days.
- New Zealand controls 30% of the global kiwi supply, with a grower-owned co-op being the main exporter.
- Illegal orchards of golden kiwis have emerged in China after a kiwi grower smuggled Sun gold sprouts overseas.
- The Panama disease fungus threatens Cavendish bananas, which are popular due to their taste, appearance, and transportability.
- Cavendish bananas are clones, making them vulnerable to diseases like TR4, which can kill entire plantations.
- Biocurity measures are implemented in Colombian banana farms to contain TR4, including sanitizing, foot baths, and monitoring.
- Scientists are working on creating TR4-resistant bananas through genetic modification and traditional breeding methods.
- The Cavendish banana's vulnerability to TR4 poses a threat to global banana production and food security.
- A resistant Cavendish banana has been developed through genetic modification, but concerns about GMOs hinder its adoption.
- Traditional breeding methods are being explored to develop TR4-resistant bananas, aiming to preserve banana diversity and combat the disease.
01:15:50
Barquet's Success with Low-Priced Dried Fruits
- Barquet sells dried fruits from less attractive ones, earning around $1 per kilogram.
- Despite low prices, Barquet sells several thousand tons annually.
