Changing Apple Crop

The apple industry is changing. Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission says today's fruit basket is a lot different than it was just a few years ago. And he says there are differences in both the domestic and export markets.

FRYHOVER: We look at an increase in exports of Red Delicious. That's where we are focusing on. We feel that these new varieties will displace Red Delicious domestically. It's already happening with Golden Delicious, the volume is drooping down dramatically. So we look at markets like China, Indonesia, the Middle East, India. Places where Red Delicious has always gone and gone in big volumes

There are a lot of new varieties waiting in the wings that may be the next Honeycrisp in popularity.

FRYHOVER: As I look out at all these new varieties they seem to have some characteristic that is associated with Honeycrisp. So you have a fuller texture. You have more flavorful apples. You have more juicy apples. The main thing to keep in mind is that Honeycrisp and the Cosmic Crisp are apple varieties that are available to all growers in the State of Washington. Some of the new varieties that are coming on are club varieties so they are very specific to packers.

And Fryhover says there are some varieties that are dropping off.

FRYHIOVER: When you look at Jonagold's, they're decreasing dramatically. We look at Braeburn's. Cameo is decreasing. Winesap's, Rome's. The Golden Delicious has basically been eaten by Gala's and now by Honeycrisp.

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