Tom Auvil, research horticulturist with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, is impressed with the condition of WA 38 apples after four months in regular storage. (Geraldine Warner)

Tom Auvil, research horticulturist with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, is impressed with the condition of WA 38 apples after four months in regular storage.
(Geraldine Warner/Good Fruit Grower)

Washington State University will hold a random drawing to decide who will be able to plant WA 38, the latest variety from the university’s apple breeding program, during the first two years trees become available.

Washington nurseries are producing trees of WA 38 and a small number will be available for planting in 2016. More than 300,000 should be available the following year.

The university will accept online applications for the drawing from April 1 to May 31 and announce results by June 30. Only Washington growers can apply. The drawing will be conducted in two tiers—one consisting of 12 lots of 3,000 to 5,000 trees each, and the other consisting of 12 lots of up to 20,000 trees each.

Growers who are not allocated trees will be able to purchase trees from nurseries as more become available in 2018.

WSU will hold informational meetings on April 2, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Confluence Technology Center, Wenatchee, and on April 3, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Yakima.

Application instructions and details about the drawing will be available on March 28 at http://WA38.wsu.edu when the web page goes live.