Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/52389
Horticulture REIGN OVERSEAS Reds likely to Though Red Delicious volume is declining, it's likely to remain Washington State's signature export apple. by Geraldine Warner A s the Washington State apple crop shifts in terms of varieties and volumes, the Washington Apple Commission must match its export efforts to what is happening in the industry, says Todd Fryhover, commission president. The big upsurge in Honeycrisp, which is selling at high prices on the domestic market, will likely push other vari- eties from the domestic to the export market, just as increasing volumes of Gala have eaten into the consump- tion of Golden Delicious domestically, resulting in a need to promote Goldens overseas. Mexico, the only significant export market for Golden Delicious, took 3.2 million boxes of that variety last season. The second largest mar- ket was Canada, which took 645,000 boxes, followed by Dubai, which imported 155,000 boxes. Agricultural economist Dr. Desmond O'Rourke has forecast that Gala will overtake Red Delicious in volume in Washington by 2018, but Fryhover doubts that Gala will become the top exported variety. Fifty percent of Wash- ington's apple exports are Red Delicious—a variety that is produced only in small volumes in other areas. "I don't think Gala will overtake Reds on the export side," Fryhover said. "Our Red is unique. It's our signature apple." The variety holds such prestige in export markets that it is often displayed upside down showing its distinctive five lobes. Ninety-six percent of Washington apples exported to India are Red Delicious. "They call the Red Delicious the Washington apple," agreed commission chair Frank Davis of Yakima. Fake stickers In fact, the Washington Red Delicious has such a cachet overseas that some Chinese growers try to pass off Red Delicious is the Washington apple overseas, says Frank Davis. their apples as Washington by using fake stickers, Fryhover said. Only recently, misidentified Chinese apples were seen in India. Fryhover said the commission tries to protect the Washington apple trademark, which is registered in most countries other than China. When the product moves out of China to a country where it is regis- tered, the commission can pursue legal action. A similar ISOMATE -CM FL ® echno Sustainable Mating Disruption Technology for Your Growing Needs ating Disruption Technolog of 200-400 dispensers per acre off 200-40 00 dispensers per acr pensers per acr 14 JANUARY 15, 2012 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com pe TE - CM F LEX -CM FLEX L E X Photo by Geraldine Warner