Apple Export Challenges Pt 2

Apple Export Challenges Pt 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. The exporting of goods is filled with challenges for the tree fruit industry with port slowdowns and other obstacles in their way.

Washington Apple Commission president Todd Fryhover says the logistics, be it foreign or domestic markets, have many layers, but this year …

FRYHOVER … “And luckily, as we stated earlier Bob, we do have a little shorter crop than normal so there isn’t as much strain on the export as what there could be if we had a 135 or 140 million box crop.”

As far as having any optimism, Fryhover says in the near term …

FRYHOVER … “We’re going to continue to see issues just because of what’s happening in China with COVID and the logistical challenges that are associated with that. Once we move through that phase, I think yes there is some optimism, but we’re probably still at least six months away from seeing anything turn.”

But, Fryhover says there is one potential bright spot …

FRYHOVER … “I think the one thing that we can perhaps maybe count on is a reduction in freight rates. That seems to be ongoing. It’s still not where it was before, but at least there’s a little bit more flexibility coming into some of these markets as far as the rate itself and also the service, delivering the container to that particular port.”

To hear for more about apple exports, check out the “Bearing Fruit” podcast at a link on the www.wstfa.org site or your favorite podcast app to hear all of Fryhover’s comment about export challenges.

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