11-11 FB Apple Insurance

 USDA’s Risk Management Agency recently announced that approved insurance providers may authorize insured apple producer’s additional time to harvest their apple crop through November 20 (on a case-by-case basis) so that claims may be settled based on harvested production. Due to the unprecedented cool and late developing spring, apple maturity in the Pacific Northwest has been delayed. According to the Washington Grower Clearing House, 2011 may be the latest apple harvest on record and Washington State University reports apple maturity and harvest remain behind schedule by up to two weeks.

 Jo Lynne Seufer  of the USDA’s RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY  said: “The authorization may be made when the end of insurance period has passed due to a delay in crop maturity resulting from an insured cause of loss. Insured apple producers in the Pacific Northwest are encouraged to contact their crop insurance agent to obtain specific details (with regards to this announcement) applicable to their individual policy and their 2011 apple crop. Insured producers must also comply with the notice of damage or loss requirements identified in the crop insurance policy and make every reasonable attempt to harvest the crop by the end of insurance period, but no later than November 20. “