Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/386317
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER OCTOBER 2014 9 T he U.S. Apple Association estimated the national 2014 apple crop at 259 million bushels, which would be the third largest crop on record, but still well below the record 1998 crop of 277 million bushels. The estimated volume is up 10 percent from last year and 17 percent above the five-year average. USApple compiled the estimate during its annual Outlook and Marketing Conference in Chicago in August. West: Washington was expected to harvest a record 162 million bushels, of which 140 million boxes would go to the fresh market. California, plagued by extreme drought, expected to harvest just under 6 million boxes. According to the estimates, the Western crop, totaling 174 million bushels, would be 13 percent larger than last year's and 18 percent bigger than the five-year average. East: The Eastern crop was pegged at 56 million bushels, a 10 percent increase over last year's and 5 percent above the five-year average. Jim Allen, head of the New York Apple Association, said New York pro- duction would be about 30 million bushels, similar to last year's volume. "We have a vintage crop in the Northeast this year, but we can handle it," he said. "We have invested in the facilities to do it." Midwest: The Michigan crop was estimated at 29 million bushels. This would be the first back-to- back normal crop since 2006-7 for Michigan, where every-other-year freezes caused see-saw production and marketing problems, noted BelleHarvest Sales President Mike Rothwell, who chaired the Midwest crop discussion. Ohio was expected to harvest 1.7 million bushels. The total Midwestern crop of almost 34 million bushels would be 10 percent smaller than last year's but 36 percent larger than the five-year average. —R. Lehnert Ontario crop at 9 million bushels, which is down 6 percent from last year. Ontario produces about half of Canada's apples. The British Columbia crop he esti- mated at 4.5 million bushels, up 16 per- cent from last year. Quebec production is down 2.5 per- cent to 6 million bushels. Nova Scotia growers suffered a massive fire blight infection this year, as foliage was dam- aged by Hurricane Arthur on July 4, and some fruit bruising may have resulted from that. The crop is expected to be up 6 percent to just over 2 million bushels. New Brunswick will contribute 170,000 bushels. Canadian growers, always heavy on McIntosh and related varieties, are changing over to modern varieties like Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, and Gala, and to high density plantings. Interestingly, however, Ontario's top variety this year will be Northern Spy. Mexico Production in Mexico last year was a record "and a major disaster," according to Leighton Romney, CEO of Paquime Group in Chihuahua, Mexico. The group produces, imports, and distributes apples, peaches, and other fruits. The 2013 crop of 24.5 million bushels, 50 percent larger than normal, was met with a shortage of labor, bins, and con- trolled-atmosphere storage space, Rom- ney said, and poor quality apples were being marketed from common storage late in the marketing season. Prices are low now, he said, but he expects them to recover by November when the smaller 2014 crop comes to market. He estimated the crop size at 16 million bushels. South America Rene Alarcon, South American man- ager of Carlos Steffens, Inc., a broker- age company located in Santiago, Chile, reported that freezes cut this year's South American production to 695,000 metric tons (36.5 million bushels) in Argentina, 1.2 million metric tons (64 million bush- els) in Brazil, and 1.6 million metric tons (84 million bushels) in Chile, he said. South American growers export to markets all over the world. Only Chile sends a significant share to the United States. "South American growers will likely send more apples to Russia," he said, but that would be from the next crop that will be harvested in March 2015 and not from the 2014 crop. • FROM COAST TO COAST, strong numbers for U.S. crop "We have a vintage crop in the Northeast this year, but we can handle it." —Jim Allen Domex Superfresh Growers ® , owned by the Kershaw family, is using the power of social engagement to fuel real connections with apple, pear and cherry consumers. We are combining the power of consumer connections and category intelligence with global sales and marketing expertise to drive success for our grower partners. Call us today to learn more about growing with Superfresh Growers ® . We know what's trending NOW. 151 Low Rd., Yakima, WA. 98908 | superfreshgrowers.com Our difference makes all the difference™ 151 Low Rd., Yakima, WA. 98908 | superfreshgrowers.com Our difference makes all the difference™