The evaluation and commercialization process

Phase 1:     Initial seedling selection and evaluation by WSU
Phase 2:    Small-scale on-farm trials with five trees at about two sites
Phase 3:     Midscale on-farm trials with 10 to 100 trees at about four sites
Phase 4:     Widescale evaluation
Phase 5:    Commercialization

WA 2 traits

Positives

  • It is a bright red-pink color with distinct lenticels.
  • It is slow to mature and has a long shelf life.
  • Its best eating quality is three months after ­harvest.
  • It is a moderately productive tree with a compact growth habit.
  • No problems reported yet with mildew, sunburn, or bitter pit.

Challenges

  • Multiple picks will be needed to maximize fruit value. Up to four picks were needed in 2010.
  • The tree wants to produce fruit on one-year-old wood, but fruit will be small and a large ­proportion misshapen.
  • Because of the compact growth, the trees might not fill their space as expected. Replant sites need tighter in-row spacing of 24 to 30 inches.

Source:  Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission