Smitten™ brand 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™ brand apples, were conducted in New Zealand.
2009
Seven test trees of PremA17 were planted in a Quincy 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 enters a license agreement with Prevar Limited, the proprietor of Smitten™ brand apples based in New Zealand.
Steensma and Crane make their first commercial planting of 50,000 Smitten™ brand trees.
2014
Steensma and Crane plant another 150,000 Smitten™ brand trees in the spring.
Three Washington state companies make a commitment to grow and pack Smitten™ brand 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
