Checking On Apples
Checking on Apples. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.
We are approaching the midway point in the Washington apple harvest. It appears that the last hot spell is behind us. Todd Fryhover, President of the Washington Apple Commission give us an update.
FRYHOVER: It's nice to have a break in the weather with warm days and cool nights just brings on the coloration of our bi-color varieties and our Red Delicious. So this type of a temperature change is welcomed in the Washington apple industry.
Fryhover says this won't be a record crop but it will be a good one.
FRYHOVER: We've got a good quality crop. It looks like we're going to be maybe slightly under estimate but every variety is different, every growing district is different but we're making fantastic progress. We're probably somewhere in the 35 to 40% harvested mode right now depending on the elevation and the variety but things seem to be going ok thus far.
Some questions were raised early on regarding whether there would be enough pickers to complete the harvest.
FRYHOVER: Labor seems to be adequate. It's really going to depend on the weather. If we lose a couple of days to rain or in the latter half we get some very cold mornings where we are unable to harvest then of course we'll have additional pressure. As of today though it appears we have enough people out there. Let's just pray for no rain in the coming future.
The quality is really good this year if the Fuji and Gala apples I've eaten is any indicator. More tomorrow.
That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
