Purdue Apples Serve Many People, Purposes.

Purdue University apple varieties are finding their way across the globe and into farmers' orchards and people's homes while adding to the economic base of Indiana.

"Purdue's apple breeding program started in the mid-1940s as part of the PRI Apple Breeding Program," said Jules Janick, the James Troop Distinguished Professor of Horticulture. "The goal of the program was to develop scab-resistant apples. All of the Purdue apple varieties originated from the PRI project."

Sixteen varieties have been released, and a number are being grown or tested in Europe, Canada, Chile, South Africa, Turkey, New Zealand and Australia. Many are used as parents in breeding programs, and Purdue is known as the source of scab-resistant apples.

The PRI project was a collaboration among Purdue, Rutgers and the University of Illinois. A side benefit to the natural breeding of scab-resistant apples is that pesticide use is greatly reduced. The present Purdue program has many selections ready for commercialization.

"In 1948 we didn't think about the environmental implications, we just wanted to serve the needs of the fruit growers," Janick said. "Now we are seeing more interest in disease-resistance methods because of the need to reduce pesticides."

Some popular Purdue apple breeds include GoldRush[TM], a crisp, tart apple; Crimson Crisp[TM], a crunchy, spicy apple; and Pixie Crunch[TM], an apple ideal for kids because of its smaller size.

The success of the Purdue apples has contributed to Indiana's apple-growing industry. Indiana ranks 12th nationally in apple production with an annual harvest of roughly 1.2 million bushels grown on about 4,000 acres of land. Most apple orchards are fewer than 30 acres and managed by small business owners. The Indiana apple industry brings in revenue of more than $7 million annually, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

To celebrate Purdue apples and Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Purdue Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization is promoting the Purdue varieties that have been developed and commercialized internationally.

"The apple industry is important to Indiana, and we wanted to find a way to recognize all the entrepreneurs working in the field and bring awareness to Purdue efforts in the industry," said Elizabeth Hart-Wells, assistant vice president for the Purdue Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization. "We also wanted to do something that would benefit our community, so we spent time in an apple orchard where the Purdue varieties are grown and picked, and then we donated the apples to a local food pantry."

The 1,000 pounds of apples are from Purdue's College of Agriculture orchard and were picked by the foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization. They were donated to Lafayette Urban Ministry's St. John's Food Pantry. Lafayette Urban Ministry was established in 1972. Last year more than 3,000 individuals volunteered in the program, which served about 6,500 Tippecanoe County households.