Since 1994, WSU has strived to develop new apple cultivars with outstanding eating quality as quickly as possible. After 15 years, the WSU apple breeding program, based here at the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, has released its first apple cultivar. The apple, currently known as ‘WA 2’, was released because of its outstanding eating quality, appearance and productivity and therefore it’s potential to be a successful cultivar in Washington State.
It is attractive with an orange-red to pinkish-red blush (70-90% of the skin surface) over a yellow background and has large and conspicuous lenticels which usually make it easily distinguishable from other cultivars and add to its overall pleasing appearance. Fruit shape is round and size is medium/large, usually being larger than ‘Gala’, comparable to ‘Braeburn’ and smaller than ‘Fuji’. The fruit has outstanding texture, being very firm, crisp and juicy and loses very little firmness in storage and on the shelf. Fruit of ‘WA 2’ ripens in late September and early October and is suited to the fresh market with the potential to be a commercial cultivar both directly off the tree and out of medium and long term storage.