Scarlet Crush™ Apple Wins 2018 Green Thumb Award

Stark Bro's new Honeycrisp/Cripps Pink cross, Stark® Scarlet Crush™, selected as a Direct Gardening Association 2018 Green Thumb Award winner.

Stark Bro's Wins 2018 DGA Green Thumb Award

LOUISIANA, MO (January 25, 2018) -- The Direct Gardening Association has chosen Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co. to receive a 2018 Green Thumb Award for its new apple, Stark® Scarlet Crush™. The DGA Green Thumb Awards recognize outstanding new garden products available by mail or online. The awards are sponsored by the Direct Gardening Association, the world’s largest non-profit association of companies that sell garden products directly to consumers.

The Honeycrisp cross ('Cherry Parfait #19'), was developed by Lee and Mary Elliott of Winchester, IL and is sold exclusively by Stark Bro's.

Stark® Scarlet Crush™ is notable for its ability to thrive in Zones 5-7, further south than its parent, Honeycrisp, which is known to be a finicky tree. The new variety also shows promising resistance to scab, rust, fire blight and powdery mildew, as well as bitter pit. Because it ripens in late September, it extends the notoriously short Honeycrisp season, a boon for commercial growers with orchards full of the country's most popular apple. A patent has been applied for.

The Elliots have produced three other Honeycrisp crosses for Stark Bro's, which have recently been made available to the public: Stark® Ruby Darling, Stark® Hart's Fancy and Stark® Red Romance. The Elliotts are currently developing additional new apples for future introduction.

Stark Bro's will begin its 202nd year in business this coming January.

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