Modest Hike in Apple Crop Seen

WASHINGTON - Aug 12/08 - SNS -- The initial 2008 U.S. apple production forecast is set at 9.17 billion pounds, slightly more than the 2007 crop year and down 7% from 2006, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Multiple spring freezes and summer hailstorms damaged orchards across the nation, however, trees in most areas of the U.S. experienced a recovery from the devastating growing weather in 2007.

Production in the Western States (AZ, CA, CO, ID, OR, UT, and WA) is forecast at 5.99 billion pounds, up 4% from 2007 but down 3% from 2006. Washington production, which makes up 59% of the U.S. total, is forecast at 5.40 billion pounds, up 4% from 2007 but down 3% from 2006. Most Washington orchards rebounded from the poor 2007 growing year. Furthermore, the frost occurrence did not affect bloom in the later maturing varieties. However, the late spring is expected to delay maturity and reduce sizing of the Red Delicious and Gala varieties.

Oregon's apple production forecast is set at 170 million pounds, up 26% from 2007 and up 13% from 2006. Yields increased in both the Washington-Oregon border and the western part of the State as growers recouped production losses from the 2007 crop year. Furthermore, the late-maturing varieties, which are most of Oregon's apples, avoided the adverse spring weather. Apple production in California is forecast at 320 million pounds, a decrease of 7% from 2007 and a decrease of 10% from 2006. An April frost and declining bearing acreage contributed to the reduced yields from 2007.

Production in the Eastern States (CT, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, VT, VA, and WV) is forecast at 2.29 billion pounds, down 4% from 2007 and down 6% from 2006. The apple forecast in New York, at 1.15 billion pounds, is 12% less than the 2007 estimate and down 9% from 2006. From Lake Ontario through the Hudson Valley, summer hailstorms wrecked apple production. Hudson Valley growers reported good apple size but poor quality, with most apples expected to go for processing.

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