Managed Varieties Draw Controversy

The focus of this month’s cover story is on SweeTango, the new apple variety from the University of Minnesota that falls under the category of a managed variety. SweeTango is being managed and commercialized by a co-op called the Next Big Thing, which is comprised of growers in five states and two Canadian provinces. The story looks at SweeTango from a grower perspective (we talked to two SweeTango producers to get their input on growing the apple), and from the perspective of Tim Byrne, president of the Next Big Thing, on how SweeTango is being introduced to the market.

When the subject of managed varieties comes up, it seems to invite discussion over whether they are good or bad for the industry. Rightly so; by definition, a managed variety will not be accessible to every grower, in order to keep production, quality, and (ideally) price at a manageable level. As more varieties are introduced in this manner, growers who are not able to “join the club,” as it were, face somewhat of an uncertain future. What do they do when their buyers continue to ask them about these new varieties, and are told that they are not able to grow them?

A New Definition of Managed

The question of whether managed varieties are good or bad for the long-term success of the apple industry almost now seems like an irrelevant one to ask. The concept of managed varieties is here to stay. Certainly not every new variety will be introduced in this manner; as Byrne notes in our Q&A with him, “there is a limit to how many successful managed varieties you can have in a marketplace.” While some will be successful, there will be others that simply cost a lot of money.

At the same time, however, you might want to start rethinking how you define a managed variety. In the past few months, our editors have reported on new apples in New York and Washington that might fall under a different category of “managed.” While growers still have to pay royalty fees and follow certain guidelines, production will be encouraged throughout each of these states. The WA 2 from Washington State University (WSU), and the new series from Cornell University’s breeding program, will be open to growers across the state.

What’s the one thing these two programs have in common? They’re the result of successful breeding programs. WSU’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, and horticulturist Susan Brown’s breeding program at Cornell, have spent years developing these varieties. As these varieties enter the market, growers will pay royalty fees for them, and these fees will go back into funding future research for these programs.

This is why supporting state breeding programs is so important. As Byrne notes in our discussion, “there needs to be some sort of enduring revenue stream for these breeding programs to come out with these new apples.” It doesn’t have to be a state program, either. The Midwest Apple Improvement Association is an example of an organization made up of innovative apple growers, breeders, and, quite frankly, apple lovers, who are doing a lot of very interesting research into genetics. Their goal, like these other programs, is to bring new, appealing varieties to the market — many of them actually designed for smaller, direct marketing-type growers who might not otherwise have access to such fruit.

Even if your state does not have a proven breeding program, there are other ways you can stay connected to new variety developments, such as building close relationships with nurseries. Volunteer to trial new varieties, and evaluate them both in the orchard and with your customers. Their feedback is going to be more valuable than anything.

Questions Still Linger

So what happens if and when some of these varieties become so popular that growers in other states demand access to them? Will the success of these varieties be a long-term benefit to the entire U.S. apple industry, or just the apple industries within these states? These are fair questions to ask. I was recently talking with our chairman emeritus and long-time editor Dick Meister, who wondered what would have happened if Red Delicious, discovered in Iowa, had been limited to Iowa, or the Golden Delicious to West Virginia, or the McIntosh to Ontario, Canada? The answers to these questions will determine where apple growers of all sizes and in all regions find themselves years from now.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Certainly there are strong opinions on either side, and we invite you to share them. Go to our new online forum, ProduceCommunity.com, and you can join the discussion. If you’re not a member, it’s easy to sign up. Once you do, you can join a discussion already taking place, or start a new one. It’s an easy way to express your opinion on this and other industry concerns. We welcome you to join!