History3

History Part Three
Introduction	By 1967, the fruit breeding program had changed its name to the Horticultural Research Center (HRC) and expanded its mission to include ornamental plant breeding. Despite this, the work on fruit continued, producing more apple and table grape cultivars, utilizing artificial ‘test winters’ and new grafting techniques that shorten the time it take to produce fruit. Other breeders were also at work around this time, most notably, Elmer Swenson, who began developing wild grape hybrids at the age of five (Green). His Wisconsin breeding vineyards produced at least five hardy, successful grape varieties, several in conjunction with the UofM between 1977 and 2001 (Hoover and Hemstad ). Since the seventies, the focus of grape development at the HRC has shifted to the production and development of wine grapes. The grapes are not only selected for overall vigor and hardiness, but also for their wine-making properties. Swenson and the university released the first northern wine grapes in 1977, but the quality of these left something to be desired. The project has continued with the help of a wine making facility at the HRC, and has progressed, eventually developing Frontenac, the North’s first commercial wine grape, in 1997 (MAES). The variety took off, and is now grown across the Midwest, Northeast, and even in Texas (MAES). Other wine grapes have followed the Frontenac, including the white wine grapes La Crescent and Frontenac Gris, and are also proving successful. Recently new apples have also been developed, the most successful of which is the Honeycrisp, released in 1991. This new variety has been the HRC’s biggest success, due to the apple’s exquisite texture and sweet-tart flavor (Luby 3). While major strides have been made in fruit breeding in Minnesota, the reality is that all this success has been due to the natural abilities of the gene pool to sort itself in countless ways. Our only involvement has been selecting and propagating those plants nature and our own desires find suitable. Images: Top- The Frontenac Grape, Bottom- The Fireside Apple
Challenges of Minnesota Part 1 Part 2
Fruit History in MN Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Timeline
Our Relationship with Crops
Future Directions

Frontenac By 1967, the fruit breeding program had changed its name to the Horticultural Research Center (HRC) and expanded its mission to include ornamental plant breeding. Despite this, the work on fruit continued, producing more apple and table grape cultivars, utilizing artificial ‘test winters’ and new grafting techniques that shorten the time it take to produce fruit.

Other breeders were also at work around this time, most notably, Elmer Swenson, who began developing wild grape hybrids at the age of five (Green). His Wisconsin breeding vineyards produced at least five hardy, successful grape varieties, several in conjunction with the UofM between 1977 and 2001 (Hoover and Hemstad ).

Since the seventies, the focus of grape development at the HRC has shifted to the production and development of wine grapes. The grapes are not only selected for overall vigor and hardiness, but also for their wine-making properties. Swenson and the university released the first northern wine grapes in 1977, but the quality of these left something to be desired. The project has continued with the help of a wine making facility at the HRC, and has progressed, eventually developing Frontenac, the North’s first commercial wine grape, in 1997 (MAES). Fireside Apple The variety took off, and is now grown across the Midwest, Northeast, and even in Texas (MAES). Other wine grapes have followed the Frontenac, including the white wine grapes La Crescent and Frontenac Gris, and are also proving successful.

Recently new apples have also been developed, the most successful of which is the Honeycrisp, released in 1991. This new variety has been the HRC’s biggest success, due to the apple’s exquisite texture and sweet-tart flavor (Luby 3).

While major strides have been made in fruit breeding in Minnesota, the reality is that all this success has been due to the natural abilities of the gene pool to sort itself in countless ways. Our only involvement has been selecting and propagating those plants nature and our own desires find suitable.

Images: Top- The Frontenac Grape, Bottom- The Fireside Apple