Fruit Tree Patents with Jeremy Kent Tamsen

Fruit Tree Patents with Jeremy Kent Tamsen

Author: Susan Poizner, OrchardPeople.com May 1, 2024 Duration: 1:00:48

What fruit trees are illegal to propagate? Learn about fruit tree propagation law with with Jeremy Kent Tamsen of Washington State University. WSU's Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee Washington developed and introduced many new specialty crops over the years, including the popular Cosmic Crisp® apple.

During the show, we talk about the WA64 naming contest. Here is the naming contest website link


The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website OrchardPeople.com


This show goes out LIVE on the last Tuesday of every month at 1.00 pm Eastern Time. After that you can download the podcast. 


To tune in LIVE (and submit your questions to our expert guests!) you can:

  1. Tune into RealityRadio101.com during the time of the live show
  2. OR watch the livestream on the Orchard People YouTube Channel

Do you want to learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully? Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/


For premium fruit tree care education visit: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/


  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (00:59) - Introducing Jeremy Kent Tampsen: The Expert on Fruit Tree Patents
  • (02:52) - The Intricacies of Fruit Tree Patents and Their Impact
  • (08:22) - Understanding the Process and Cost of Obtaining Plant Patents
  • (12:26) - The Honeycrisp Story: Lessons in Patents and Trademarks
  • (19:41) - Lessons WSU Learned from Honeycrisp on Trademarks
  • (23:11) - List of Patented Fruit Trees
  • (24:25) - How Long it Takes to Get a Fruit Tree Patent
  • (27:07) - Jeremy's Work in Plant Patents
  • (30:23) - Orchard People Sponsors
  • (33:37) - Part 2 of the Episode
  • (34:50) - Is it Legal to Plant Seeds from Patented Apples
  • (39:56) - The Lost Apple Project: Rediscovering Heirloom Varieties
  • (42:56) - Should the Public Have Free Access to Patented Fruit Trees?
  • (46:31) - WA 64: WSU is Introducing a New Patented Apple Tree and Naming Contest
  • (49:28) - What Happens to Test Trees that Aren't Good Enough to Market?
  • (55:44) - Learning More About WSU's Breeding Programs
  • (59:25) - Closing Thoughts and Future Episodes



Imagine stepping into your own backyard and picking a perfect, sun-warmed apple from a tree you nurtured yourself. That tangible connection to the land and the deep satisfaction of growing your own food is at the heart of Orchard People. Hosted by fruit tree care educator Susan Poizner, this podcast digs into the practical and often surprising world of cultivating fruit trees, whether you have a few pots on a balcony or several acres to explore. Each episode feels like a thoughtful conversation with a knowledgeable friend, as Susan and her guests unpack the nuances of pruning for better harvests, managing pests without harsh chemicals, and understanding the life beneath our feet through soil health. You’ll hear from specialists on topics like grafting heirloom varieties, designing resilient food forests, and integrating permaculture principles into any space. It’s more than just tips and tricks; it’s about building confidence and community around sustainable growing. Tune in to this garden-focused podcast for grounded advice that helps both new and experienced growers foster healthier trees and more abundant yields, season after season.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Orchard People
Podcast Episodes
Creating a "Tree of 40 Fruit" with Sam Van Aken [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:00
Sam Van Aken is an award winning artist and an associate professor in the Art Department of Syracuse University who uses grafting techniques to create his "Tree of 40 Fruit" art installations across North America. His tr…
When To Fertilize Fruit Trees with Robert Crassweller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:41
When is the best time to fertilize fruit trees? In this episode Tree Fruit Production Extension Specialist Robert Crassweller, Ph.D. from Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences talks about how fruit trees' nutrition…
Native Apple Trees with Paul Kron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:36
Most apple trees that we grow in our gardens and orchards are not native to North America. DNA tells us that these trees originate in the mountains of Kazakhstan in Central Asia. But there are some crabapple trees that a…
Apple Tasting Party with Yael Hickok and Dr. Amy Bowen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:46
Yael Hickok is a volunteer who cares for Boyer's Orchard in Alaska. Each year she has an apple tasting party or gathering in which she and other volunteers are able to taste over 120 different varieties of apples planted…
How to Prune Old Fruit Trees with Bob Lever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:57
Old fruit trees may be hollow but they can still produce fantastic fruit and they provide invaluable habitat to wildlife, sometimes for very unique and specific species.In this radio show learn how to prune old apple tre…
Growing Fruit Trees in Extreme Climates with Greg Peterson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:13
Growing fruit trees can be very difficult in extreme climates and no one would understand that better than Greg Peterson of UrbanFarm.org, who grows his fruit trees in Phoenix, Arizona. There, the summer temperatures can…
Community Orchards in the UK and Beyond with Lewis McNeill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:00
In this episode of The Urban Forestry Radio Show and Podcast, host Susan Poizner interviews Lewis McNeill of The Orchard Project about how they help nurture and support groups that want to start community orchards in the…
Bee Garden Design and Fruit Trees with Lorraine Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:37
Lorraine Johnson, co-author of the free eBook: "A Flower Patch for The Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee" explains how to use native plants to create a pollinator or bee garden. This month's recommended resource was Keeping Bees…
Vertical Mulching and Worms in Soil with Glynn Percival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:22
In this episode of The Urban Forestry Radio Show and Podcast we speak to Dr. Glynn Percival, Manager of Bartlett's Tree Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Reading, UK who has been using vertical mulc…
Biochar and Fruit Trees with Mark and Laurie Mann [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:14
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about how biochar can help boost the carbon levels in your soil. But what is biochar and how is it made? How is biochar different than other types of soil amendments? And is…