USApple sees smaller national crop
USApple sees smaller national crop
CHICAGO - The volume of apples produced in the United States for the 2008- 09 season is expected to be down about 5 percent from the previous season and down about 9 percent from the five-year average, according to the U.S. Apple Association. USApple is forecasting a total national crop of 207.18 million bushels.
Those estimates differ slightly from U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers, which indicate a 1 percent increase from last season and a 4 percent decrease from the five-year average. USDA is forecasting a total national crop of 218.22 million bushels.
The numbers were announced during the U.S. Apple Association's 2008 Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference, held Aug. 21-22 here at the Ritz- Carlton Hotel.
About 300 people from around the country and the world attended this year's conference, the largest number since 2001, according to Todd A. Hultquist, USApple's director of communications and membership.
Following introductory remarks by USApple Secretary John Teeple of Teeple Farms Inc. in Wolcott, NY, and USApple President and Chief Executive Officer Nancy E. Foster, George Lamont of Lamont Fruit Farm Inc. in Waterport, NY, spoke a little about the U.S. apple crop.
Mr. Lamont noted that drought conditions had eased since the previous year in New York state and Michigan but persisted in parts of the Southeast. However, apple areas in New York and other parts of the Northeast and Midwest were hit by hail this season, which is expected to cut volume in varying degrees, depending on specific damage.
Mr. Lamont talked a bit about the ever-changing varietal mix throughout the country. While new varieties are continuing to make inroads as older varieties lose some of their appeal to consumers, he noted that Red Delicious is still the primary variety in the country by far, and that Golden Delicious and Granny Smiths continue to hold their own.
On the subject of labor availability, Mr. Lamont said that because of the expected short crop, labor is not expected to be a major problem, but he stressed that in the long term, something definitely needs to be done to address this critical topic.
Alessandro Dalpiaz, managing director of Assomela, the Italian Association of Apple Producers, gave the European apple crop outlook, followed by Joyce Cui of Haisheng International in White Plains, NY, who gave the Chinese apple crop outlook.
As always at this USApple conference, a good part of the time was spent crunching the numbers, both during the general sessions as well as during the regional crop discussions, where smaller groups representing the East, Midwest and West examining the numbers in greater detail.
In the East, according to the U.S. Apple Association, New York state is expected to produce 23.5 million bushels in 2008, 25 percent below last year and 17 percent below the five-year average. Pennsylvania is expected to produce 9.75 million bushels in 2008, 13 percent below last year and 10 percent below the five-year average. Virginia is expected to produce 5.1 million bushels in 2008, virtually unchanged from last year and down 15 percent from the five-year average. The total production in the East is expected to be about 50.28 million bushels, 8 percent below last year and 12 percent below the five-year average.
In the Midwest, Michigan is expected to produce 12.5 million bushels, 32 percent below last year and 35 percent below the five-year average. The total production in the Midwest is expected to be about 20.77 million bushels, 9 percent below last year and 23 percent below the five-year average.
In the West, Washington state is expected to produce 122.1 million bushels in 2008-09, 1 percent below last year and 6 percent below the five-year average. California is expected to produce 7.62 million bushels, 7 percent below last year and 14 percent below the five-year average. Oregon is expected to produce 4.05 million bushels, 26 percent above last year and 17 percent above the five-year average. The total production in the West is expected to be about 136.12 million bushels, 1 percent below last year and 6 percent below the five-year average.
In 1981, the USDA discontinued its varietal estimate of the national apple crop. Since then, the U.S. Apple Association has provided that service.
The forecasts for 2008 include 52.88 million bushels of Red Delicious, down from 53.9 million bushels last year; 29.6 million bushels of Gala, up from 29.14 million bushels last year; 25.29 million bushels of Golden Delicious, up from 23.4 million bushels last year; 21.13 million bushels of Granny Smith, up from 20.06 million bushels last year; and 19.41 million bushels of Fuji, up from 17.66 million bushels last year.
In addition to all the volume estimates, the conference traditionally spotlights a number of people or companies that have provided particular service to the apple industry.
Evan Milburn and his son Nathan of Milburn Orchards in Elkton, MD, received the American Fruit Grower magazine's 2008 Apple Grower of the Year Award, which is sponsored by Dupont Crop Protection. This was the first father-and- son team to win this award.
Also, Suzanne Wolter, director of marketing at Rainier Fruit Co. in Selah, WA, and a member of the National Apple Month committee, announced that Stop & Shop in Quincy, MA, was named NAM's Merchandiser of the Year.
Stop & Shop was founded in 1914 as Economy Grocery Stores Co. Through the years, the company changed its name as it purchased and sold other stores and pharmacies. In 1995, it was acquired by the American branch of Dutch food giant Ahold. Today, it is the largest food retailer based in New England with retail sales of more than $11.1 billion annually, operating more than 360 stores throughout New England as well as in New York and New Jersey.
Representatives from National Apple Month and industry suppliers will travel this fall to Freetown, MA, to present the award to the company, where the entire staff of Stop & Shop will be honored.
Those estimates differ slightly from U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers, which indicate a 1 percent increase from last season and a 4 percent decrease from the five-year average. USDA is forecasting a total national crop of 218.22 million bushels.
The numbers were announced during the U.S. Apple Association's 2008 Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference, held Aug. 21-22 here at the Ritz- Carlton Hotel.
About 300 people from around the country and the world attended this year's conference, the largest number since 2001, according to Todd A. Hultquist, USApple's director of communications and membership.
Following introductory remarks by USApple Secretary John Teeple of Teeple Farms Inc. in Wolcott, NY, and USApple President and Chief Executive Officer Nancy E. Foster, George Lamont of Lamont Fruit Farm Inc. in Waterport, NY, spoke a little about the U.S. apple crop.
Mr. Lamont noted that drought conditions had eased since the previous year in New York state and Michigan but persisted in parts of the Southeast. However, apple areas in New York and other parts of the Northeast and Midwest were hit by hail this season, which is expected to cut volume in varying degrees, depending on specific damage.
Mr. Lamont talked a bit about the ever-changing varietal mix throughout the country. While new varieties are continuing to make inroads as older varieties lose some of their appeal to consumers, he noted that Red Delicious is still the primary variety in the country by far, and that Golden Delicious and Granny Smiths continue to hold their own.
On the subject of labor availability, Mr. Lamont said that because of the expected short crop, labor is not expected to be a major problem, but he stressed that in the long term, something definitely needs to be done to address this critical topic.
Alessandro Dalpiaz, managing director of Assomela, the Italian Association of Apple Producers, gave the European apple crop outlook, followed by Joyce Cui of Haisheng International in White Plains, NY, who gave the Chinese apple crop outlook.
As always at this USApple conference, a good part of the time was spent crunching the numbers, both during the general sessions as well as during the regional crop discussions, where smaller groups representing the East, Midwest and West examining the numbers in greater detail.
In the East, according to the U.S. Apple Association, New York state is expected to produce 23.5 million bushels in 2008, 25 percent below last year and 17 percent below the five-year average. Pennsylvania is expected to produce 9.75 million bushels in 2008, 13 percent below last year and 10 percent below the five-year average. Virginia is expected to produce 5.1 million bushels in 2008, virtually unchanged from last year and down 15 percent from the five-year average. The total production in the East is expected to be about 50.28 million bushels, 8 percent below last year and 12 percent below the five-year average.
In the Midwest, Michigan is expected to produce 12.5 million bushels, 32 percent below last year and 35 percent below the five-year average. The total production in the Midwest is expected to be about 20.77 million bushels, 9 percent below last year and 23 percent below the five-year average.
In the West, Washington state is expected to produce 122.1 million bushels in 2008-09, 1 percent below last year and 6 percent below the five-year average. California is expected to produce 7.62 million bushels, 7 percent below last year and 14 percent below the five-year average. Oregon is expected to produce 4.05 million bushels, 26 percent above last year and 17 percent above the five-year average. The total production in the West is expected to be about 136.12 million bushels, 1 percent below last year and 6 percent below the five-year average.
In 1981, the USDA discontinued its varietal estimate of the national apple crop. Since then, the U.S. Apple Association has provided that service.
The forecasts for 2008 include 52.88 million bushels of Red Delicious, down from 53.9 million bushels last year; 29.6 million bushels of Gala, up from 29.14 million bushels last year; 25.29 million bushels of Golden Delicious, up from 23.4 million bushels last year; 21.13 million bushels of Granny Smith, up from 20.06 million bushels last year; and 19.41 million bushels of Fuji, up from 17.66 million bushels last year.
In addition to all the volume estimates, the conference traditionally spotlights a number of people or companies that have provided particular service to the apple industry.
Evan Milburn and his son Nathan of Milburn Orchards in Elkton, MD, received the American Fruit Grower magazine's 2008 Apple Grower of the Year Award, which is sponsored by Dupont Crop Protection. This was the first father-and- son team to win this award.
Also, Suzanne Wolter, director of marketing at Rainier Fruit Co. in Selah, WA, and a member of the National Apple Month committee, announced that Stop & Shop in Quincy, MA, was named NAM's Merchandiser of the Year.
Stop & Shop was founded in 1914 as Economy Grocery Stores Co. Through the years, the company changed its name as it purchased and sold other stores and pharmacies. In 1995, it was acquired by the American branch of Dutch food giant Ahold. Today, it is the largest food retailer based in New England with retail sales of more than $11.1 billion annually, operating more than 360 stores throughout New England as well as in New York and New Jersey.
Representatives from National Apple Month and industry suppliers will travel this fall to Freetown, MA, to present the award to the company, where the entire staff of Stop & Shop will be honored.
