Right from the get-go, Fred Wescott thought Honey Crisp would be a new force in the apple market. And he bet on it. He planted orchards in Minnesota and northern Washington. And, now, his company is bringing Honeycrisp into the United States from partners in Chile, starting its transformation from a fall seasonal apple. “When Honey Crisp came out in Minnesota, it was apparent it had the ability to be far more important than other varieties,” Wescott said in an interview with Good Fruit Grower. He is president of Wescott Agri Products and Wescott Orchards, Elgin, Minnesota, which also owns Honeybear Brands, the name under which the company markets Honey Crisp apples. As proof of his insight, Wescott Orchards planted the first Honeycrisp in the state of Washington already 20 years ago, when the variety was first released by the University of Minnesota. That was in addition to plantings made in the original Wescott Orchards in Minnesota. It was known from the start that Honey Crisp was a finicky apple and that site selection was important, Wescott said. He chose northern Washington as the place to plant and installed overhead cooling. “Honey Crisp does not do well in hot areas,” he said.
Honey Crisps from Chile not worth $5 a pound
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There has been great reader interest in the Honey Crisp apple post. Right now. the Honeybear brand of Honey Crisps from Chile is in supermarket bins for $5 a pound. The South Bayview Bulldog bought two (that was all we could afford) and our verdict is that compared to the North American Honey Crisps (Canada and the U.S.) the South American Honey Crisp is not worth the price. There is a softness to the apple being sold at Loblaws and Longo’s that suggests that its just a little old. The Honeybear brand is not running with juice like the Honey Crisps from the shore of Georgian Bay. It is true that Honey Crisp has become a 21st Century phenomenon. But be careful what you buy. And, frankly, retailers are counting on you thinking you are going to get the premium Canadian and U.S. quality apple. Here is an extract which tells us about the history of the apple, which was created at the University of Minnesota some 20 or more years ago.
