YAKIMA, Wash.-Washington State University’s newest variety of apple now has an official name.
WSU apple breeder Kate Evans announced that the state’s newest apple will officially be called Sunflare at the Northwest Horticulture Expo in Yakima on Dec. 10.
Sunflare was chosen from 15,000 responses submitted during a public contest to name the new apple known as WA 64 until a name was picked.
WSU faculty and staff as well as public focus groups of apple lovers narrowed the submissions down until a winner emerged.
Sunflare was submitted by Ryan Escarcega, a 49-year-old food service salesperson and chef from Centralia.
According to a WSU press release on the apple, Escarcega was reportedly inspired by the color of the new apple and the solar storms that made the Northern Lights visible this spring.
“It was a real eye-catcher,” Escarcega said of the apple. “I saw a nice relationship between the colors and the name. And the sun has everything to do with the growth of the product.”
WSU’s breeding program seeks outstanding eating quality and excellent long-term storage when developing new apples and the Sunflare is a tart, crisp and juicy mix between the Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink, according to today’s press release.
WSU has applied for a trademark on the Sunflare name and the apples are expected in grocery stores in 2029.
