What's Your Problem? · Episode 178 · May 14, 2026 · 33 min
Inventing a Better Apple
The apples you can buy at the grocery store have gotten profoundly better over the past few decades. It’s a kind of everyday, hiding-in-plain sight innovation. Kate Evans is an apple breeder and professor at Washington State University. Kate's problem is this: How do you invent a better apple? With her team, Kate has in fact invented a new kind of apple called the Sunflare. It’s arriving in stores in a few years. She also helped to invent the Cosmic Crisp, which is out already. In this episode, Kate explains: Why grocery-store apples have gotten so much better Why some of the most delicious apples never make it into stores Why it takes decades to invent a new kind of apple How much more we have to learn about apple genetics How the apple industry is adapting to climate change Connect with us: Follow Jacob Goldstein on LinkedIn , X and Instagram Email us at [email protected] Follow Pushkin on Instagram , LinkedIn or X Listen to Jacob’s other show, Business History To listen to the show early and ad free, sign up for Pushkin+ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.