Apple Harvest

Apple harvest is definitely underway. Gala apples have been coming off since the end of August - first of September. Last year the apple industry was hit with a significant shortage of pickers. Bruce Grimm, Executive Director of the Washington State Horticultural Association comments on the labor outlook for this year.

GRIMM: So far, people have adequate labor. We’re not hearing of any shortages - that’s not to say there may not be some out there, but things look pretty favorable on the labor front.

One of the concerns for apple growers was whether, after the hot summer, there would be good color development. But the cooler nights seem to have helped with that.

GRIMM: There was some concern about color development on Galas in particular - being the first apples to come off. Certainly what we’re seeing is there’s been very good color development . It was amazing just watching some of the orchards adjacent to where I live that color change was noticeable on just a day by day basis. The crop appears to be of high quality. Sizing is quite good on Gala. So at this juncture we’re thinking things are looking pretty good so far.

As far as yield expectations for this year’s apple crop, Grimm says that while the overall national crop is down significantly, that is not the case here in Washington. Even though there’s a possible reduction of 10 to 15 million boxes due to earlier hail storms, the industry as a whole is still looking at about a 108/109 million box crop, which Grimm says is a large crop even by Washington standards.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.