Carlsbad Current-Argus from Carlsbad, New Mexico • 11

A Friday September 4, 2009 GRICULTURE Current-Argus Apple growers to release successor to Honeycrisp tr SIX money supporting more research. But Byrne Said he expects the school to do even better. The arrangement creates a Other major horticultural schools are developing managed varieties, too, including the apple programs at Cornell University and Washington State University. But only the top new varieties are likely to attract enough interest to merit becoming managed, said Bedford, who expects most to be released to everyone as before. An important advantage of managed varieties is they allow growers to enforce high quality standards, Byrne said.

An emerging problem with Honeycrisp, which debuted in 1991, is that anyone can grow it, so it's now planted at some sites that are too warm and the quality can suffer, he said. And Byrne said quality is the key to getting Americans, particularly children, to eat more apples. Many kids have been turned off by the low-quality apples they often get at school, he said. "We're fighting for that share of stomach," Byrne said, "and we firmly believe that we have be able to provide a great eating experience so that when kid is given a choice between a really good apple and something else snacky, that the apple will be the one they choose." -I JLm. of Minnesota variety.

"It inherited Honeycrisp 's texture, and that's a rare commodity, and it actually has more flavor than Honey crisp, said David Bedford, the university apple breeder who helped develop Honeycrisp and SweeTango. Another asset is SweeTango is ready in early September. "Woefully few" premium apples come out then, when produce managers are eager for something new to start the fall season, Byrne said. The university earned more than $8 million from Honeycrisp, mostly from a $1 per tree royalty paid by licensed nurseries before the patent expired in November. The school will earn a similar royalty on the SweeTango patent.

But it also licensed the SweeTango trademark to Byrne and a group of growers who audaciously named their cooperative the Next Big Thing, in the hope that SweeTango will prove as lucrative as Honeycrisp. The co-op will pay the school 4.5 percent of the apple's net wholesale sales in perpetuity. Bedford said he expects the university to earn as much on the deal as it did from Honeycrisp, with the gfn why now: Steve KarnowskiAssociated Press In this photo taken Aug. 26, Tim Byrne, president of the Next Big Thing growers' cooperative, shows off a SweeTango apple at Pepin Heights Orchards near Lake City, Minn. The SweeTango, developed by the University of Minnesota, is being touted as the successor to the incredibly successful Honeycrisp.

r.l" vi i J-L but kicks up the flavor and adds an intriguing note of fall spice. It was made by crossing Honeycrisp with another University If the "managed variety," a relatively new concept for U.S. growers but more common abroad. The Jazz apple from New Zealand and Pink Lady from Australia are managed varieties sold in the U.S. Honeycrisp is a variety in Europe.

managed The deal gives Next Big Thing control over who can grow SweeTango and where, and how the apple is marketed and shipped. The co-op has about 72 growers in Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Washington, Wisconsin, Quebec and Nova Any Minnesota grower can get licensed through Pepin Heights to grow and sell SweeTango at their farms, farmers markets or to local grocers. Byrne said 87 have signed up. They pay the $1 per tree royalty, but not the 4.5 percent of sales. Growers outside Minnesota must join the co-op to get SweeTango.

The trees likely won't be available to the general public until the patent expires in 2028, Byrne said. ,.22,205 4500 If; 1 'Z Aftw all factory rebates (HKOunw 1 A 1 wasn't paying SweeTango and Honeycrisp were developed at the University of Minnesota. The new apple has Honey-crisp's crispness and juice STIMULUS AVAILABLE! rebates on sued moons, u- RETAIL BONUS CUSTOMER CASH RETAIL CASH AUTOPLEX DISCOUNT FMCC DISCOUNT MILITARY DISCOUNT Hill tor yw' By Steve Karnowskl Associated Press Writer LAKE CITY, Minn. Tirrf Byrne picked an apple from the spindly tree, sliced it and popped a chunk into his mouth. He couldn't have been more pleased as he chomped and got a juicy blast of sweet-tart flavor.

"This is what's got us excited," Byrne said as he shared samples from a perfectly ripe SweeTango apple, which he and other growers are about to introduce as the successor to the incredibly successful Honeycrisp. Honeycrisp was a phenomenon in the apple industry because its taste and texture were so good it sold for about $1 more per pound than other varieties. Those investing in SweeTango are banking on it commanding the same premium price, and they've formed a cooperative to grow and sell it nationwide. SweeTango will start showing up in some Minnesota farmers markets Labor Day weekend and arrive in selected grocery stores around the Twin Cities, Seattle and Rochester, N.Y., a few days later. If all goes according to plan, the apple should be available nationwide in 201 1 or 2012, said Byrne, who's president of the cooperative and vice president of sales and marketing for Pepin Heights Orchards in southeastern Minnesota.

Sheep producers to meet in Roswell Submitted to the Current-Argus ALBUQUERQUE Sheep producers are invited to attend an informational meeting hosted by the New Mexico Wool Growers, Inc. on Tuesday, 8, at the Chaves County Extension Office in Roswell, "We often stay so busy at home, keeping our operations going, that we don't have time to keep up with industry news. This meeting will be a great opportunity for ranchers to get current information and to. learn about issues impacting our businesses," said Jim Cooper, NMWGI President, Arabela. The group will discuss range sheep health programs, factors affecting lamb marking rates and potential responses, as well as potential federal assistance programs for sheep producers.

"We encourage all interested producers, whether or not theyare NMWGI members to attend and participate," Cooper said. The Chaves County Exter sion office is located at 200 E. Chisum, Door 4. Lunch will be sponsored by Roswell Wool, and attendees are asked to call the NMWGI office at (505) 247-0584 to ensure an accurate head count for lunch. Livestock Inspector of the Year nominations sought Submitted to the Current-Argus ALBUQUERQUE The New Mexico Cattle Growers Association is seeking nominations for its annual Livestock Inspector of the Year Award, which will be awarded during the Joint Stockmen's Convention in December.

Each year, the NMCGA honors a livestock inspector employed by the New Mexico Livestock Board for outstanding service to the livestock industry, said Curt Kelling, NMCGA Theft Livestock Committee Chairman, Nominations should be directed to the NMCGA, P.O. Box 7517, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87194, via fax at (505) 842-1766 or via email to Deadline for submitting nominations is Nov. 1. The award will be presented during the 2009 Joint Stockmen's Convention, slated for Dec. 3 through 6 at the Marriott Pyramid Hotel in Albuquerque.

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