The history of the Pixie Crunch apple dates back to the year 1972 when it was first developed by PRI, which stands for Purdue University, Rutgers University, and the University of Illinois. These three prestigious institutions collaborated on apple breeding, and Pixie Crunch was one of their successful creations.
Interestingly, before being named Pixie Crunch, this apple variety was tested under the name Co-op 33. It underwent rigorous testing, evaluation, and selection processes before finally being given its current name. This demonstrates the meticulousness and dedication of the apple breeding program in ensuring the quality and suitability of the apple for cultivation.
Pixie Crunch is a hybrid apple, resulting from the crossing of two numbered apples. It inherits its genetic traits from its parent varieties, and in the case of Pixie Crunch, both Golden Delicious and Rome apples are part of its heritage. This cross-breeding enables the apple to possess a unique combination of characteristics and flavors.
The involvement of institutions like Purdue University, Rutgers University, and the University of Illinois in the development of Pixie Crunch highlights the collaborative nature of apple breeding. These institutions bring together their expertise, resources, and knowledge to create new and improved apple varieties that can benefit both growers and consumers.
The specific reasons for choosing Golden Delicious and Rome as parent varieties for Pixie Crunch are not explicitly mentioned. However, it is worth noting that both Golden Delicious and Rome apples are well-known and widely cultivated varieties in their own right. Golden Delicious is celebrated for its sweet flavor and crisp texture, while Rome apples are known for their firmness and excellent storage capabilities. By incorporating these desirable traits into Pixie Crunch, the breeders aimed to create an apple that would provide a delightful eating experience while also being suitable for storage.
The process of apple breeding is a complex and time-consuming endeavor. It involves carefully selecting parent varieties based on their desirable traits, cross-pollinating them, and then evaluating the resulting offspring for their characteristics. This evaluation includes factors such as taste, texture, color, size, disease resistance, and overall suitability for cultivation. The most promising offspring are then further propagated and tested until a new variety, like Pixie Crunch, is ready for commercial production.
The history of the Pixie Crunch apple is rooted in the collaborative efforts of Purdue University, Rutgers University, and the University of Illinois. Through their apple-breeding program, they developed this unique variety by crossing Golden Delicious and Rome apples. The selection and refinement process led to the creation of an apple with a distinct flavor and desirable traits. The development of Pixie Crunch exemplifies the dedication and expertise of apple breeders in continuously improving the diversity and quality of apple varieties available to growers and consumers.
