Near Record Apple Volumes Part 2

Near Record Apple Volumes Part 2. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Dan Kelly, assistant manager for Washington Growers Clearing House had some good things to say about the Washington apple crop that is showing why the state is tops in apple production.

KELLY: It looks like we’re going to have a record apple crop. We’re about 400-thousand boxes shy of 2-years ago which was a record of 108.3 right now we’re right at, we’’ let’s say 108 and so we need that movement. The good part of that is that we’re not seeing a reduction in price.

And this could be the second best price year without inflation. Kelly talks about how some specific varietals are doing.

KELLY: Gala shipments are going real well. We’re now going to see Gala’s surpass 22-million boxes for the first time ever so volume wise Gala’s the second biggest next Reds, it’s at 32-million boxes but the volume seems to be moving out there. We don’t seem to see anything lagging – a specific variety that’s dragging.

He says prices are looking good.

KELLY: If you take Honey Crisp out of the mix because Honey Crisp is selling so much higher than anything else. Fuji’s and Gala’s are right in there together. One of the good parts is the Red Delicious – we’d like to see it higher than it is but it’s maintaining a reasonable level.

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