Fruit Snapshot
Fruit Snapshot. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.
Northwest Farm Credit Services has just released their quarterly market snapshot. Michael Stolp, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Vice President of Customer Insights give us a look at the apple crop.
STOLP: The outlook for the Northwest apple industry continues to improve. Supported by lower 2015 and 16 production, down 16.4% from the prior year. A smaller apple crop is attributed to smaller apple size , crop damage a fewer acres in production. Although early season apple sales were brisk, prices are improving as the shipping pace slows. Continued strength in apple prices may be constrained by slower than normal export sales limited by a strong dollar.
And he takes a minute to update us on how the wine and vineyard crop fared.
STOLP: Wine sales are strong and both wine markets are active. Despite an early harvest due to unseasonably warm temperatures, Northwest wine producers 2015 was heavy and relatively high quality. Overall wine sales continue to increase with active consumer interest in premium wines priced between $12 and $30 per bottle. Relatively mild winter weather to date favors northwest wine production in 2016.
Other snapshots are available on Northwest Farm Credit Services website under the Resources tab.
That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.
