Fuji (apple)

{{Infobox cultivar

| name = Malus domestica, Fuji

| image = Apfel-Fuji.jpg

| image_caption =

| genus = Malus

| species = M. domestica

| hybrid = Red Delicious × Ralls Janet

| cultivar = Fuji

| origin = Fujisaki, Aomori (1930s)

}}

The {{nihongo|Fuji apple|ふじ|Fuji|lead=yes}} is an apple cultivar developed by growers at the {{nihongo|Tōhoku Research Station of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry|農林省園芸試験場東北支場|Nōrinshō engei shikenjō Tōhoku-shijō}} in Fujisaki, Aomori, Japan, in the late 1930s,The Research Station moved to Morioka later; now National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, National Institute of Fruit Tree Science 果樹試験場リンゴ研究部 http://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/fruit/kin/apple/017785.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311164459/https://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/fruit/kin/apple/017785.html |date=2013-03-11 }} and brought to market in 1962. It originated as a cross between two American apple varieties—the Red Delicious and old Virginia Ralls Janet (sometimes cited as "Rawls Jennet") apples. According to the US Apple Association website it is one of the nine most popular apple cultivars in the United States.[https://usapple.org/apple-varieties Apple varieties] by the US Apple Association Its name is derived from the first part of the town where it was developed: Fujisaki.{{Cite web|title=Root Growth Changes in the Winter Planting of Young 'Miyabi Fuji'Apple Trees|url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=ru&user=OIZyxdUAAAAJ&citation_for_view=OIZyxdUAAAAJ:u-x6o8ySG0sC|access-date=2021-11-16|website=scholar.google.com}}

Overview

Fuji apples are typically round and range from large to very large, averaging {{Convert|75|mm|in}} in diameter. They contain from 9–11% sugars by weight and have a dense flesh that is sweeter and crisper than many other apple cultivars, making them popular with consumers around the world. Fuji apples also have a very long shelf life compared to other apples, even without refrigeration. With refrigeration, Fuji apples can remain fresh for up to a year.{{cite book |last=Yepsen |first=Roger |title=Apples |year=1994 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Co. |location=New York|isbn=0-393-03690-1}}

In Japan, Fuji apples continue to be an unrivaled best-seller. Japanese consumers prefer the crispy texture and sweetness of Fuji apples (which is somewhat reminiscent of the coveted Nashi pear) almost to the exclusion of other varieties{{cn|date=November 2021}} and Japan's apple imports remain low.{{Cite web |url=https://fas.usda.gov/data/japan-fresh-fruit-market-update-2023 |title=Japan: Fresh Fruit Market Update 2023 |date=12 September 2023 |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=2024-03-31}} Aomori Prefecture, home of the Fuji apple, is the best known apple growing region of Japan. Of the roughly 900,000 tons of Japanese apples produced annually, 500,000 tons come from Aomori.

Outside Japan, the popularity of Fuji apples continues to grow. In 2016 and 2017, Fuji apples accounted for nearly 70% of China's 43 million tons grown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.producereport.com/article/china-apple-exports-are-expected-hit-record-high-2016|title=China apple exports are expected to hit a record high in 2016 {{!}} China Fresh Fruit and Produce News|website=www.producereport.com|language=en|access-date=2017-06-11}} Since their introduction into the US market in the 1980s, Fuji apples have gained popularity with American consumers — as of 2016, Fuji apples ranked number 3 on the US Apple Association's list of most popular apples, only trailing Red Delicious and Gala.{{Cite news|url=http://usapple.org/u-s-apple-association-forecasts-a-stronger-than-average-harvest-gala-red-delicious-and-fuji-most-popular-varieties-honeycrisp-and-pink-lady-fastest-growing/|title=U.S. Apple Association Forecasts a Stronger Than Average Harvest; Gala, Red Delicious and Fuji Most Popular Varieties; Honeycrisp and Pink Lady Fastest Growing - U.S. Apple Association|date=2016-09-13|work=U.S. Apple Association|access-date=2017-06-11|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708210010/http://usapple.org/u-s-apple-association-forecasts-a-stronger-than-average-harvest-gala-red-delicious-and-fuji-most-popular-varieties-honeycrisp-and-pink-lady-fastest-growing/|url-status=dead}} Fuji apples are grown in traditional apple-growing states such as Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and California. Washington State, where more than half of America's apple crop is grown, produces about 135,000 tons of Fuji apples each year, third in volume behind Red Delicious and Gala varieties.{{Cite web|url=http://extension.wsu.edu/chelan-douglas/agriculture/treefruit/horticulture/apples_in_washington_state/|title=Apples in Washington State {{!}} Chelan & Douglas Counties {{!}} Washington State University|website=extension.wsu.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-11}}

In the United States and Canada, the Price look-up code (PLU code) for Fuji apples is 4131.

Gallery

File:Fuji apples.jpg|Fuji apples

File:Malus-Fuji.jpg|Fuji Kiku on a tree

File:Fuji apple with PLU code.jpg|A Fuji apple with a United States PLU code attached

File:Apples in the supermarket.JPG|Fuji apples on a display in a supermarket

Mutant cultivars

Many sports (mutant cultivars) of the Fuji apple have been recognized and propagated. In addition to those that have remained unpatented, twenty had received US plant patents by August 2008:

class="wikitable" !Date !"Inventor" !Marketed as !Mutated from !Assignee !Habit !Pattern !Earlier !Color !Plant patent number
Aug 29, 1989	Hiraragi	Yataka	Fuji	Makoto Okada	standard	stripe	1 Month	–	{{US plant patent\|7001}}
Oct 6, 1992	Yahagi	Heisei Fuji, Beni Shogun⁹⁶⁴⁵	Yataka⁷⁰⁰¹	Nakajima Tenkoen	standard	solid	no	dark red	{{US plant patent\|7997}}
Nov 17, 1992	Cooper	T.A.C.#114	Redsport Type 2	T.A.C.	spur	stripe	10–14 days	more brilliant red, 80—90%	{{US plant patent\|8032}}
Sep 26, 1995	Fukuda	Tensei	Fuji	Fukushima Tenkoen	standard, larger	stripe	no	same	{{US plant patent\|9298}}
Apr 16, 1996	Lynd	Fuji-Spike	Fuji	Lynd	spur	stripe	0–5 days	same	{{US plant patent\|9508}}
Sep 24, 1996	Van Leuven	Myra	unknown red strain	C & O	standard	blush w/ subtle stripe	1 week	bright pink	{{US plant patent\|9645}}
Dec 9, 1997	Auvil	Fuji 216	T.A.C.#114⁸⁰³²	Auvil	standard	blush	5–21 days	brighter red, 90—100%	{{US plant patent\|10141}}
Mar 24, 1998	Coopr & Perkins	Fuji Compact T.A.C. #114	T.A.C.#114⁸⁰³²	T.A.C.	spur	same	same	same	{{US plant patent\|10291}}
Jan 25, 2000	Van Leuven	Fiero	Yataka⁷⁰⁰¹	C & O	standard	indistinct stripe	7–10 days	more intense blush	{{US plant patent\|11193}}
Sep 18, 2001	Snyder	Snyder	BC 2	Snyder	semi-spur	heavy stripe	same	same	{{US plant patent\|12098}}
Nov 27, 2001	Torres	Triple E	BC 2	–	standard	85—100% blush	10–14 days	solid red	{{US plant patent\|12219}}
Apr 16, 2002	Rankin	Rankin Red	Yakata⁷⁰⁰¹	Twin Springs Fruit Farm	standard	70—90% blush	5 days	more intense	{{US plant patent\|12551}}
Nov. 11, 2003	Teague	Irene	BC 2	–	standard	solid	60 days	yellow	{{US plant patent\|14299}}
Oct 26, 2004	Braun	Brak	Fuji	Kiku	standard	striped	earlier	ruby red	{{US plant patent\|15261}}
Feb 21, 2006	Clevenger	Fugachee	Fuji	–	standard	70—90% blush	14 days before Fiero	–	{{US plant patent\|16270}}
Jun 6, 2006	Banning	Banning Red	Desert Rose Fuji	Banning	standard	stripe	–	redder	{{US plant patent\|16624}}
Aug 14, 2007	Lee, Edwards, Delugar	CABp	Nagafu 6	CABp 4	standard	stripe	–	"superior"	{{US plant patent\|17914}}
Sep 11, 2007	Eppich	Eppich 2	T.A.C. #114⁸⁰³²	–	standard	blush with light stripe	unclear	yellow and red	{{US plant patent\|18004}}
Apr 29, 2008	Braun	Fuji Fubrax	Fuji	Kiku SRL	standard	dark ruby red stripes and blush	late	green-yellow	{{US plant patent\|18761}}
Jul 29, 2008	Leis, Mazzola	Fujiko	Nagafu 12	Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti	standard	diffused	–	more intense red	{{US plant patent\|19054}}

Unpatented Fuji mutants include:

BC 2
Desert Rose Fuji
Nagafu 2
Nagafu 6
Nagafu 12
Redsport Type 1
Redsport Type 2

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20041209122435/http://www.fas.usda.gov/htp2/circular/2000/00-11/applesit.htm Northern Hemisphere Apple Situation and Outlook] – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service
https://web.archive.org/web/20070928174409/http://www.idfta.org/cft/1998/vol31no1/barritt/Barritt_Fuji.pdf
http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/kitchen/handbooks/apples/northamerica.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410061335/http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/kitchen/handbooks/apples/northamerica.html |date=2009-04-10 }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120225075432/http://www.patentgenius.com/class/PLT/168.html Patents covering Fuji Apples]
[http://www.plucodes.com/ The International Federation for Produce Coding (IFPC)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817173350/http://www.plucodes.com/ |date=2015-08-17 }}
[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/nbi-pav032508.php# Popular apple variety harbors unusual cell growth] EurekAlert March 25, 2008

Category:Japanese apples

Category:Apple cultivars with patented mutants

Category:Apple cultivars