Moving Apples

Moving Apples. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Diane Kurrle, Director of Public Affairs for US Apple is involved on a number of fronts to try and keep apples moving.

KURRLE: The amount of apples in stock right now is about 30% above our 5 year average for this time of year. Movement has been strong so it’s not a question of demand but there was just a very strong crop in 2008 and there’s a lot of that crop left and we want to move that out to consumers and recipients of federal nutrition programs before the 2009 crop begins harvest.

Members of Congress have sent a letter to Ag Secretary Vilsack urging a large purchase of apples.

KURRLE: We had very wide bi-partisan support on those letters with 17 Senators and 44 House members signing on from 11 states and USDA is expected to make a decision on the purchase in the next few weeks.

Kurrle says there is one more program they are working on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Process.

KURRLE: Our number on goal for the reauthorization is to increase the reimbursement rates that are given to schools for the school lunch program and the school breakfast program. And the reason for that is that studies have shown that the current reimbursement rates don’t cover the costs of making the meal.

New dietary guidelines mean that school will be including more fruits and vegetables which will mean more apples for school kids.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.