Smitten™ apples (Cultivar PremA17) originated from a cross of (Falstaff x Fiesta) and (Braeburn x Gala).
2005
Trials and tests of Cultivar PremA17, now known as Smitten™, were conducted in New Zealand.
2009
Seven test trees of PremA17 were planted in a Quincy, WA orchard courtesy of Brandts Nursery and AIGN.
2010
PremA17 receives the name Smitten™ when the New Zealand marketing rights were assigned to Seventeen Limited, a partnership of six New Zealand companies.
2011
Pegasus Premier Fruit, based in Washington state, enters a license agreement with Prevar Limited, the proprietor of Smitten™ apples based in New Zealand.
Pegasus Premier Fruit makes their first commercial planting of 50,000 Smitten™ trees.
2014
Pegasus Premier Fruit plant another 150,000 Smitten™ trees in the spring.
Three Washington state companies make a commitment to grow and pack Smitten™ apples.
Columbia Fruit Company, Wenatchee
Valicoff Fruit Company, Yakima
Piepel Premium Fruit Packaging, East Wenatchee
Additionally, independent Washington growers planted acreage:
Josh Koempel
Craig Campbell
Pete Tagarres
Andrew Sundquist
Dave Taber
John Sylester
Andy Feil
Since 2014, four vertically-integrated North American groups outside of Washington state have committed to substantial acreage over the next 4 years:
Michigan: Belle Harvest Sales, Belden Storage
New York: New York Apple Sales, Lake Ontario Packers
