L&M set to move quality crop
L&M set to move quality crop
Despite problematic weather in the Pacific Northwest, L&M Cos., located in Union Gap, WA, is set to move a quality crop of Washington apples this season.
“The Washington apple industry was expected to have a record crop for the 2012/2013 season,” Sales Manager John Long told The Produce News on Aug. 23. “The estimated total crop has definitely been reduced by a series of severe hailstorms over the last month that hit all the major growing areas of the state. It is still difficult to know exactly how much effect the hailstorms have had on the entire crop. Other growing areas throughout the world are also predicted to have smaller apple crops. So this should make the apple markets very strong for the entire season.”
According to Mr. Long, L&M packs and sells a full apple manifest to its global customers. “The main apples varieties of Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Galas and Fujis will make up about 75 percent of the total volume grown in Washington,” he stated. “All the other varieties such as Braeburns, Cameos, Jonagolds, Honeycrisp, Romes, Pinks and a host of other varieties make up the balance of the crop.”
On the domestic side, L&M markets to retail, wholesale, foodservice and process customers. “We will export apples to almost all parts of the world,” he went on to say. “The major export markets include the Pacific Rim countries, India, the Middle East countries, Mexico and the Central and South American areas. Export continues to be about 30 percent of our overall apple business.”
