STAT Communications Ag Market News

Smaller Apple Harvest Expected

WASHINGTON - Aug 10/17 - SNS -- United States apple production for the 2017 crop year is forecast at 10.4 billion pounds, down 7% from 2016, according to the latest USDA production estimate's of the season.

Production in the Western States (California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) is forecast at 7.16 billion pounds, down 9% from last year. The Washington apple harvest is expected to start a few weeks later than last year. Growers are expecting good quality fruit but slightly smaller fruit than last year's harvest.

Production in the Eastern States (Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia) is forecast at 2.34 billion pounds, up 8% from last year. New York apple orchards reported varying conditions and expectations for this year's crop. Growers reported localized hail damage and commented that rainfall and cool temperatures could affect fruit size.

Production in the Central States (Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) is forecast at 945 million pounds, a decrease of 27% from last year. A portion of the Michigan apple bloom was killed in early May when temperatures dropped into the low 20's.

Commercial Apple Production - States and United States: 2016 and Forecasted
August 1, 2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                        Total production
       State      :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                  :              2016              :              2017
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                  :                         million pounds
                  :
California .......:               251.0                            230.0
Connecticut ......:                12.9                             25.0
Idaho ............:                55.2                             51.0
Illinois .........:                18.7                             22.0
Maine ............:                36.5                             43.0
Maryland .........:                38.4                             46.0
Massachusetts ....:                29.0                             46.0
Michigan .........:             1,175.0                            800.0
Minnesota ........:                19.3                             26.0
New Jersey .......:                34.7                             44.0
                  :
New York .........:             1,180.0                          1,200.0
North Carolina ...:               104.0                            105.0
Ohio .............:                33.5                             47.0
Oregon ...........:               195.4                            175.0
Pennsylvania .....:               442.0                            490.0
Vermont ..........:                26.9                             30.0
Virginia .........:               180.0                            220.0
Washington .......:             7,320.0                          6,700.0
West Virginia ....:                80.0                             94.0
Wisconsin ........:                41.0                             50.0
                  :
United States ....:            11,273.5                         10,444.0
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