Smaller Washington apple crop being met with enthusiasm
Smaller Washington apple crop being met with enthusiasm
By Aug. 30, the 103.2 million-box Washington apple crop of 2004, one of the larger on record, was down to 1.6 million boxes remaining in storage, and projections are for a 7 percent reduction in the fresh crop size this season.
The smaller crop of 95 million boxes, which might yet be reduced depending on fruit size as the season continues, is being described by industry members as welcome news.
"Right now we're seeing some early Galas being harvested," said Charles Pomianek of the Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association. The quality of the fruit is awfully good, he said. Were expecting a smaller crop than 2004, with the estimate at 95 million boxes, down from 103 million. Thats pretty good news.
Including apples for processing, Washington produced 144 million boxes last season, according to the U.S. Apple Association. USApple also projected the state to be down in production this year, with 133.3 million boxes estimated for all uses.
Noting that Red Delicious continue to be the number one volume apple for the state, Mr. Pomianek said that statewide the variety is projected to come in at 31.5 million 40-pound cartons this year.
The percentage continues to decline, however. That number is down from the 37.5 million last yea, he said. Looking at Washingtons top volume varieties, Mr. Pomianek said that Golden Delicious are also down somewhat, to 12.9 million boxes this year from 13.6 million boxes in 2004. Granny Smith apples are up to 13.4 million boxes from 12.8 million, while Fujis are down to 12 million boxes from 13.6 million. Galas rose slightly to 15.9 million boxes from 15.4 million.
Right now I know quality looks good, he said of the states 200,000-plus acres of apples produced by 2,500 to 2,800 apple growers.
Mr. Pomianeks views were shared by his counterpart, Miles Kohl of the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers.
Mr. Kohl said that in his region, Galas are in full swing, and initial reports are that most people are picking out lighter than the estimate. Were hearing that the fruit is smaller, likely because of a cool spring and very warm August.
He added that early Golden varieties that had either been picked or were being picked in late August were also smaller. We havent heard the full report yet, but they also seem lighter, he said. Agreeing with Mr. Pomianeks comments on quality, Mr. Kohl said that everything is picking pretty clean.
Breaking the crop down by variety and volume shipped out of the Yakima Valley, Mr. Kohl said that in 2004 Red Delicious accounted for 25.2 million boxes, and this year it will likely be less, at approximately 21 million. Golden Delicious were 6.9 million boxes last season and will be lighter at 6 million this year, and Granny Smith will come in at an estimated 8 million boxes, compared to 8.2 million in 2004.
Fujis are projected to be down to 7 million boxes this year from 8.3 million boxes last year, but Galas will see a very slight increase to 10 million boxes from 9.8 million.
All told, the Yakima Valley is estimating its 2005 production to be 56.6 million boxes, compared to 64.8 million last season.
Its definitely a more manageable crop, Mr. Kohl observed. Last year we had great size and were surprised at our actual tonnage.
Also weighing in on crop projections was Dan Kelly of the Washington Growers Clearing House in Yakima. Mr. Kelly said that the initial take is that early pickings of primarily Galas have good packouts, [and] fruit is down in a size to size-and-a-half, which puts it back more to normal.
He continued, We think that 95 million could be on the high side. Quality so far is good, and there are no major [pest or disease] issues. So as a whole region, everything appears to be good.
Roughly one-third of Washingtons fresh volume is exported, with Mexico by far the biggest market, Mr. Kelly said.
In 2004 some 8.3 million boxes of apples were shipped to Mexico, with Red Delicious leading the varietal way at 3.7 million boxes. Canada is the No. 2 market, taking 5.3 million boxes of Washington apples. The preferred variety, although not by much, was the Gala at 1.3 million boxes. Granny Smith came in at 1.2 million, followed by Red Delicious at 1.1 million and Golden Delicious at 900,000.
Other major markets for Washington apples include Taiwan, which took 2 million boxes last year, and Hong Kong, which received 1.8 million, Mr. Kelly said. Red Delicious was the top variety shipped, followed by Fujis and Galas, he added.
While prices were reported by the U.S. Apple Association to average 21.7 cents per pound in 2004 compared to a five-year average of 23.5 cents, Washington shippers were nonetheless successful in moving virtually the entire 2004 crop by the time 2005s harvest was in full swing.
Moreover, keeping a store of old-crop apples is necessary, the growers agreed, to maintain shelf space and prevent product gaps.
There are still some 2004 Reds available, and the quality of fruit coming out of storage is very good, Mr. Pomianek said. The industry cannot afford to be out of commercial volume. If retailers dont have product, [shippers] could lose shelf space. So we need good-quality, old-crop apples available in September and maybe even into October.
I think were OK, and what we have remaining is extremely manageable, he said. The old crop will be gone by the end of September.
Mr. Kohl said that markets in August were good, with prices on the 2004 apples strengthening and 2005 prices strong.
He said that there was little fruit from the Southern Hemisphere in the marketplace, which gave domestic producers an added edge.
The old crop is needed in the early stages of harvest, concurred Mr. Kelly. We wont have too much, and the transition [to new-crop fruit] should be pretty smooth. He added, The markets should be much improved from last year, and were seeing that other countries [that share the same season] are down in volume pretty much across the board.
(A full report on Washington apples appears in the Sept. 12 issue of The Produce News.)
The smaller crop of 95 million boxes, which might yet be reduced depending on fruit size as the season continues, is being described by industry members as welcome news.
"Right now we're seeing some early Galas being harvested," said Charles Pomianek of the Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association. The quality of the fruit is awfully good, he said. Were expecting a smaller crop than 2004, with the estimate at 95 million boxes, down from 103 million. Thats pretty good news.
Including apples for processing, Washington produced 144 million boxes last season, according to the U.S. Apple Association. USApple also projected the state to be down in production this year, with 133.3 million boxes estimated for all uses.
Noting that Red Delicious continue to be the number one volume apple for the state, Mr. Pomianek said that statewide the variety is projected to come in at 31.5 million 40-pound cartons this year.
The percentage continues to decline, however. That number is down from the 37.5 million last yea, he said. Looking at Washingtons top volume varieties, Mr. Pomianek said that Golden Delicious are also down somewhat, to 12.9 million boxes this year from 13.6 million boxes in 2004. Granny Smith apples are up to 13.4 million boxes from 12.8 million, while Fujis are down to 12 million boxes from 13.6 million. Galas rose slightly to 15.9 million boxes from 15.4 million.
Right now I know quality looks good, he said of the states 200,000-plus acres of apples produced by 2,500 to 2,800 apple growers.
Mr. Pomianeks views were shared by his counterpart, Miles Kohl of the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers.
Mr. Kohl said that in his region, Galas are in full swing, and initial reports are that most people are picking out lighter than the estimate. Were hearing that the fruit is smaller, likely because of a cool spring and very warm August.
He added that early Golden varieties that had either been picked or were being picked in late August were also smaller. We havent heard the full report yet, but they also seem lighter, he said. Agreeing with Mr. Pomianeks comments on quality, Mr. Kohl said that everything is picking pretty clean.
Breaking the crop down by variety and volume shipped out of the Yakima Valley, Mr. Kohl said that in 2004 Red Delicious accounted for 25.2 million boxes, and this year it will likely be less, at approximately 21 million. Golden Delicious were 6.9 million boxes last season and will be lighter at 6 million this year, and Granny Smith will come in at an estimated 8 million boxes, compared to 8.2 million in 2004.
Fujis are projected to be down to 7 million boxes this year from 8.3 million boxes last year, but Galas will see a very slight increase to 10 million boxes from 9.8 million.
All told, the Yakima Valley is estimating its 2005 production to be 56.6 million boxes, compared to 64.8 million last season.
Its definitely a more manageable crop, Mr. Kohl observed. Last year we had great size and were surprised at our actual tonnage.
Also weighing in on crop projections was Dan Kelly of the Washington Growers Clearing House in Yakima. Mr. Kelly said that the initial take is that early pickings of primarily Galas have good packouts, [and] fruit is down in a size to size-and-a-half, which puts it back more to normal.
He continued, We think that 95 million could be on the high side. Quality so far is good, and there are no major [pest or disease] issues. So as a whole region, everything appears to be good.
Roughly one-third of Washingtons fresh volume is exported, with Mexico by far the biggest market, Mr. Kelly said.
In 2004 some 8.3 million boxes of apples were shipped to Mexico, with Red Delicious leading the varietal way at 3.7 million boxes. Canada is the No. 2 market, taking 5.3 million boxes of Washington apples. The preferred variety, although not by much, was the Gala at 1.3 million boxes. Granny Smith came in at 1.2 million, followed by Red Delicious at 1.1 million and Golden Delicious at 900,000.
Other major markets for Washington apples include Taiwan, which took 2 million boxes last year, and Hong Kong, which received 1.8 million, Mr. Kelly said. Red Delicious was the top variety shipped, followed by Fujis and Galas, he added.
While prices were reported by the U.S. Apple Association to average 21.7 cents per pound in 2004 compared to a five-year average of 23.5 cents, Washington shippers were nonetheless successful in moving virtually the entire 2004 crop by the time 2005s harvest was in full swing.
Moreover, keeping a store of old-crop apples is necessary, the growers agreed, to maintain shelf space and prevent product gaps.
There are still some 2004 Reds available, and the quality of fruit coming out of storage is very good, Mr. Pomianek said. The industry cannot afford to be out of commercial volume. If retailers dont have product, [shippers] could lose shelf space. So we need good-quality, old-crop apples available in September and maybe even into October.
I think were OK, and what we have remaining is extremely manageable, he said. The old crop will be gone by the end of September.
Mr. Kohl said that markets in August were good, with prices on the 2004 apples strengthening and 2005 prices strong.
He said that there was little fruit from the Southern Hemisphere in the marketplace, which gave domestic producers an added edge.
The old crop is needed in the early stages of harvest, concurred Mr. Kelly. We wont have too much, and the transition [to new-crop fruit] should be pretty smooth. He added, The markets should be much improved from last year, and were seeing that other countries [that share the same season] are down in volume pretty much across the board.
(A full report on Washington apples appears in the Sept. 12 issue of The Produce News.)
