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This helped me put in context this more recent piece about another trademarked apple, the cosmic crisp. http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/05/03/525421226
by andrewem 9y ago
This helped me put in context this more recent piece about another trademarked apple, the cosmic crisp. http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/05/03/525421226/washington-apple-growers-sink-their-teeth-into-the-new-cosmic-crisp http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/05/03/525421226/was...
Edit: to summarize, there are lots of different apple varieties that have been trademarked and which therefore can only be sold with that brand name by growers in the "club" which controls the brand. They do so in the hope of being able to make a sustainable profit on a differentiated product, rather than selling a commodity which tends to drive profits to zero.
- mc32 9y agoSeems blueberry growers could learn a thing or two about this tactic given their profits have tanked and some ponder exiting the market[1] as more growers entered the market. [1]http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/wireStory/fear-losing-blueberry-growers-prices-drop-crop-soars-47965684 http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/wireStory/fear-losing-bluebe...
- andrewem 9y agoUntil I read your comment it had not occurred to me that there could be different varieties of blueberries, but of course there can.
- mc32 9y agoIn addition to wild cultivars which some people say can be great, commercial ones tend from sweet, juicy to tart and watery tasteless, smallish and big. Of course they are susceptible to terroir (soil chars and climate) etc. There are quite a few to choose from[1]. [1]http://berrygrape.org/blueberry-cultivar-selection/ http://berrygrape.org/blueberry-cultivar-selection/
- Retric 9y agoCommodities don't drive profits to zero. What they do is drive the least efficient operations out of business which looks to those companies like the profits go to zero. But, overtime someone is generally profitable when average over a few years.