Announcement of Opportunity (AOO)
WA 64 Apple Cultivar
Summary Cultivar Description:
WA 64 is an attractive pink blushed apple with outstanding eating quality, being both firm and tasty. WA 64 is a Washington State University (WSU) apple release that originated from a cross between Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink in 1998. After several months in refrigerated storage, the apple has very little reduction in quality, particularly firmness. It is suited to the fresh market from a couple of months following harvest in late September through long-term storage.
The WA 64 tree is a type III bearer, similar to Golden Delicious, with medium vigor (Fig. 1). Like WA 38, the tree is ‘self-thinning’ to singles and doubles. This symmetrical apple is small to medium, and round with 40 to 70% of the surface covered with a pink blush over a yellow background. It colors well and easily, if exposed to direct light. Skin finish is good with very little russet or bitter pit and very little sunburn in the apple growing regions of central Washington. The fruit matures evenly, is not prone to preharvest drop and can be harvested in one pick if the canopy structure allows for light exposure. Harvest date is similar to Golden Delicious in central Washington.
Sensory and instrumental evaluations of crispness, juiciness, and hardness show the exceptional eating characteristics of WA 64, which is slightly less hard but considerably more crisp and juicy than Cripps Pink. WA 64 also retains these excellent texture characteristics after more than 6 months of refrigerated atmosphere storage. Sensory comparisons with Honeycrisp show that WA 64 is harder and has slightly less crispness and juiciness (see Tables 1, 2 and 3). Its sweetness and acidity are between those of its two parents. In consumer evaluations after seven months in refrigerated atmosphere storage, WA 64 was rated higher than controlled atmosphere (CA) stored Cripps Pink for overall acceptance, as well for taste/flavor, and texture (See Figure 2).
WA 64 fruit has a high pack-out, it’s not sensitive to bruising and handles well on a commercial packing line. It has excellent retention of fruit flavor and firmness throughout storage.
Background:
Washington State University (WSU) has officially released its new apple cultivar WA 64. The Washington
State University Office of Commercialization (WSU-OC), the licensing arm of WSU, the assigned owner of WA 64, desires to find, through this Announcement of Opportunity (AOO) process, an exclusive licensee to manage the tree commercialization of WA 64, including contracting out the propagation of trees to nurseries and others, sublicensing to growers, trademark management, royalty collection, etc. WSU is not looking for the offeror under this AOO to be involved in sales and marketing of the fruit produced by the WA 64 trees, or assistance in the naming of the trademark for WA 64. WSU-OC encourages the submission of proposals by qualified offerors: individuals, individual companies, groups of companies, cooperatives, groups of individuals and/or companies banding together under a cooperative arrangement, etc.
WSU-OC has filed a plant patent application for WA 64 and is currently developing a trademark name for the fruit of WA 64. WSU-OC will apply for U.S. trademark protection for the chosen name. WSU-OC will also file for international Plant Variety Rights (PVR) in strategic territories and countries around the world. We are accepting applications that address both domestic and international efforts. Proposals can address the management of domestic and international, domestic only, or internationally only. However, if a domestic management plan only is proposed, offeror would need to propose how to collaborate and work with an international company for commercialization.
The offeror/licensee will manage commercialization of WA 64 as its contribution to achieve the following overarching objectives:
- All qualified WA growers will have fair and reasonable access to the cultivar.
- Long-term commercial success of the cultivar in Washington State
- Management of appropriate commercial standards to provide adequate propagation and intellectual property management
- Royalty schemas should provide a funding stream to contribute to the long-term financial sustainability of the WSU apple breeding program.
- Manage a controlled release of WA 64 in foreign territories to maintain full intellectual property coverage but not compete with Washington production.
Submit AAO for WA 64
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