US Apples drop

A mild February/ March turned cold in April causing many US apple producers producers to experience production losses due to poor pollination and frosts especially later crops such as varieties Red Delicious and Fuji. Lower fruit set combined with a very hot summer has affected fruit sizes and has reduced the crop which has started to be picked this week. Gala seems to be unaffected.

First estimates from the US indicate an apple crop some six per cent down on last year’s record volumes but still above 2003 levels. The crop is seven per cent down on last season in Washington state, which is the largest producer in the country, making up 57 per cent of the US total.

Lake Ontario region and Yakima Valley have both seen reductions in crop volumes. Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association in Washington State, executive director Miles Kohl forecasts a fresh crop packout of some 95 million 42lb boxes, compared to 103m last year.