West Michigan apple growers harvest new variety, say Honeycrisp may have close competition

West Michigan apple growers hope to bank on the success of a new apple variety that could rival the Honeycrisp, a popular variety with consumers. Besides ripening earlier and having more flavor, the SweeTango apple is one of a new "managed variety" whose production will be controlled for maximum market impact.

According to excerpts from the story:

Fruit grower Ken Hubert picked an apple from a young tree in one of his orchards, pointing out the dark pink color and the spidery design on the skin. "It has more color than a Honeycrisp," Hubert said, holding up the new apple variety called SweeTango. "If people like Honeycrisp, they're really going to like this. It's a great apple." Hubert is betting on the variety's success. But consumers' tastebuds will make that call. You can decide for yourself if you are willing to travel. The SweeTango is available in limited supply at a Hart orchard and will be sampled next weekend at a Silver Lake Sand Dunes barbecue. Hubert is one of about 72 growers in the U.S. and Canada who invested thousands of dollars in a cooperative to grow and market the apple. Sixteen of those growers are in Michigan. The co-op is hoping the SweeTango will be a successor to the popular Honeycrisp, whose taste and texture have people clamoring for it each season.

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