The science and art of breeding, growing and tasting fruit
Coming up at 9 a.m. Monday
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Minnesota 55, Minnesota 1711, Minnesota 1914. Those names don’t sound crunchy, juicy, sweet or snappy — but they’re all apples.
Those assigned research numbers became the Honeycrisp, SweeTango and First Kiss apples you may know and love.
Coming up at 9 a.m. Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two fruit breeders who helped bring some of your favorite apples to market. Their work has also led to new varieties of strawberries, blueberries and grapes that can handle Minnesota winters.
And we want to hear from you, too.
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What’s your favorite apple and why? What questions do you have about breeding fruit that can thrive in Minnesota’s climate?
Call us during the 9 a.m. hour at 651-227-6000 or 800-242-2828.
Guests:
Jim Luby is a professor emeritus in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. He directed the university’s fruit crops breeding program for 42 years. Some of the famous fruits he helped develop include the Honeycrisp and SweeTango apples.
Matt Clark, associate professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota and director of research at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
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