U.S. Apple Crop Inches Down

WASHINGTON - Oct 12/06 - SNS -- This year's final U.S. production forecast is 9.84 billion pounds, up 2% from the August forecast but down less than 1% from 2005, according to the USDA.

Increases in production from August 2006 were shown for Michigan, Washington, New York and North Carolina. Pennsylvania and West Virginia production did not change from the August forecast, while Virginia showed a decrease in apple production. Growers in the Eastern, Central, and Western apple producing regions are expecting increases in production compared with the August forecast.

Production in the Western States (AZ, CA, CO, ID, OR, UT, and WA) is forecast at 6.35 billion pounds, up 2% from the August forecast but 2% below 2005. Washington production, which makes up 58% of the U.S. total, is forecast at 5.70 billion pounds, up 2% from the previous forecast but 2% below last year.

Washington's apple harvest continues under very good weather conditions. Despite scattered early summer hail storms and hot, dry weather during the growing season, the overall quality and quantity has been reported as good. All of the other Western States are carried forward from the August forecast.

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