Marketing the 2011 Apple Crop

Marketing the 2011 Apple Crop. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Yesterday we talked with Todd Fryhover, President of the Washington Apple Commission about the current apple harvest and how things really are looking pretty good, albiet a bit smaller since the season got pushed a bit. Now that the apples are coming off the trees, how will they market the crop.

FRYHOVER: We are really putting a lot of emphasis on some of the markets that take Red Delicious specifically on the smaller sizes so we’re talking about doing a new and interesting program in India with a big focus in there. China remains a focus. We can’t do too much on the Granny’s and the Gala’s that go in there because they’re still considered to be contraband but branching out into those secondary cities is very important.

He says they have some new activity going on in Vietnam.

FRYHOVER: Very inquisitive and price market for us. Just doing tremendous strides on Gala’s and now also on Fuji’s and some other varieties so we’re going to be out there pushing hard this year. We’re going to be a little bit delayed because of the harvest but we are going to be out there and be aggressive once we get this harvest under wraps.

When a season runs late like this there is always a question of quality but Fryhover says that’s not an issue.

FRYHOVER: It’s a good quality crop. You know I there’s a distinction to be made between north and south but in general it’s going to be a good quality crop. Shape looks good, color is coming on with this wonderful weather we’re experiencing.

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