Washington Apples in Pandemic Pt 3
With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. As world markets attempt a slow recovery from coronavirus impacts, apples growers from our state are making the best of a bad situation.
Washington Apple Commission’s Toni Lynn Adams says while exports apples sales are down, domestic sales have been good, not enough to make up the difference of the export loss, but still good …
ADAMS … “You know, I have referred back to a 2012 economic impact study conducted on the Washington apple industry and it refers to for every 5-million boxes that can’t go to an export markets, or that don’t go to export markets, increases the pressure on the domestic market and it equates about an income loss to growers of about $55-million.”
So, the overall impact, Adams says …
ADAMS … “So, you know, there are economic impacts to the slowdown of exports and the lift of 6% in the domestic market doesn’t quite balance out that drop of 18% in our international markets.”
But given all we’ve been through, Adams says, so far-so good …
ADAMS … “Well, fruit is still moving and we’re still shipping apples consistently every week and there is, showing signs of recovery and an uptick of movement from week to week.”
As for any kind of surplus, Adams says it’s not a huge amount because they’re geared to providing fruit year-round and fruit shipments have been moving along steadily.
