In memory of John Cripps
Half a century after the first crossing of Lady Williams and Golden Delicious in 1972 at the Stoneville Research Station in Western Australia, the original creator of the variety Cripps Pink, then Cripps Red, John Cripps left us this Tuesday, May 10 at 95 years old.
Excerpt from a letter from John Cripps to the TOULEMONDE family…
... At first, when I started working at the Western Australian Department of Agriculture, a fruit producer said, "What does this Englishman know about growing fruit?" It took time for PINK LADY® to be accepted, but once, when I was in France, I was introduced to some fruit producers as the Father of the PINK LADY®.
I am very pleased that the potential of PINK LADY® has been recognized and my best wishes for you and your family.
Sincerely,
John Cripps AO
It is with great emotion that the apple world, and in particular the global community of Pink Lady® and Joya® actors, heard this sad news.
Internationally recognized for its professionalism, vision and innovation in variety creation, John was also appreciated for his humility and sincerity at the service of orchardists.
With the ambition to create varieties suitable for Western Australian production conditions, these are two real gifts and exceptional pearls that John has offered to French, Italian and Spanish producers, and more generally to the apple industry in the world.
Honoured by the highest awards in Australia and the Commonwealth, John leaves an invaluable legacy for Star Fruits and the entire Pink Lady® Europe Association and Joya® Europe Team network.
Creator of original and particularly generous varieties for producers, but also generating consumer acclaim, we also owe to John and his team this unique brand, Pink Lady® and its iconic logo of the apple with the big heart.
Thanks to this iconic brand, European and producers internationally have been able to develop this major innovation in our sector: to market much more than an apple, but also to ensure the commitment of a sector through a recognized signature and sustain the development of markets by accompanying the product, from the nursery to the consumer.
For all those who had the chance to meet with him, it is first of all his kindness, his practical sense, his humility and his enthusiasm that must allow us to continue his work.
Generous by nature, Cripps Pink and Cripps Red, John’s original creations, have given birth to the derived varieties that allow the continuity and development of our projects. Above all, John leaves in legacy a breeding program that will be conducive to future innovations at the service of global and European arboriculture. The younger generations will long thank John for his work.
From where it all started: John Cripps, in company, from left to right, of Hubert Veauvy, Renaud Pierson and Philippe Toulemonde in front of the original tree of Cripps Pink. Manjimup Station, 2005.
A Sunday afternoon in simplicity, at John’s house, in Perth, October 2015.
Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC, Minister of Agriculture of the Government of Western Australia said: “A pioneering apple breeder who will be remembered as the "Father of the Pink Lady". John led the apple breeding program at the former Department of Agriculture that developed the iconic Cripps Pink and Red varieties that put WA fruit on the international stage. A great mentor to staff, who continue his legacy in breeding new uniquely WA apples.”
The entire Pink Lady® and Joya® chain in Europe has addressed its emotion and sincere condolences to his family.
A moment of emotion shared in Bologna on Wednesday 11 May by the Italian producers present at the presentation meeting of the project «Pink Lady® Cap 2030». John was the first architect of this project that will last for generations.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zLjkayWemVJJkyyjuD9s8G1RFQdUIZiu/view?usp=sharing
You can find a delicious interview moment with John in 2021 in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzB_Jk22DqQ
You can also find john in the following video that a university student made about the Pink Lady in late 2020: https://youtu.be/YLS7NcA8y48 (John appears in the middle of the movie)
On LinkedIn, a nice message from his daughter has been widely taken up in the world: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hdcripps_creator-of-the-world-famous-pink-lady-apple-activity-6930466523824238592-_dnM
For those who would express an attention to John’s family, please feel free to leave a message here https://www.westannouncements.com.au/browse/obituaries/view/cripps-john. Your message will be available to the family and they sender can leave there contact details.