Hot New Apple Created By Chance

Hot New Apple Created By Chance AG WORLD Ag World 21-3-40 "This new apple is destined to have a tremendous future," says Grant Elliot about his new apple variety that's being tested at several nurseries around the country this year. The Elliott apple was developed from a volunteer seedling that first appeared in Elliott's orchard near Provo, Utah, 18 years ago. For some reason, he decided not to plow under the stray plant and now its fruit is creating a stir in the apple world. "It has a firm, sweet, tart, fruity complex and, at the same time, a very attractive bright yellow color with a gorgeous pink blush," writes James K. Ballard of the Northwest Fruit Testers Association. "I would rate this one better than the much-touted [Australian] Pink Lady." Ballard says the chance of getting a new apple variety of this quality from a wild off-shoot plant is one in 100,000. By this time, the original tree is about 15 ft. tall and 15 ft. across and Elliott has produced about 25 other trees from it. Burchell Nursery in Modesto, Calif., helped Elliott patent his apple and is selling trees for testing mostly in the Pacific Northwest but as far east as Wisconsin (4201 McHenry, Modesto, Calif. 95356; ph 209 529-5685). The nursery plans to begin selling the trees commercially next spring. The first Elliott apples will hit stores in two to five years, Elliott and the nursery say. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Grant Elliott, 4950 North Canyon Road, Provo, Utah 84604 (ph 801 226-3953). (The Daily Herald)

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