NYAG LLC, better known as New York Apple Growers, has completed negotiations with Cornell University to obtain the exclusive license to two new apple varieties.
These two varieties, currently known as NY 1 and NY 2, have been developed by the Cornell Apple Breeding program led by Dr. Susan Brown. Both apples have excellent appearance, flavor, and crispness.
NYAG has surveyed all New York growers regarding their interest in joining NYAG. There have been positive responses from 170 growers, including 70 grower direct marketers. These growers expressed a desire to plant about 1,000 acres of the NY 1 and NY 2 cultivars. Currently, only New York growers are eligible to join NYAG and to plant, grow, and market the licensed varieties.
NYAG will be contracting with grower members to manage the distribution of the acreage and ultimately the packing and marketing of the fruit. NYAG will be sublicensing packinghouses and marketers in order to offer premium retuns to growers for the sale of this fruit. Revenues derived from royalties of these initial varieties will be shared with Cornell University to provide funding for breeding work to create future selections suited to the New York climate. As a result, NYAG growers will be funding directly into the apple breeding program.