06/28/06 Good Finish for Apples

Good finish for apples. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. It has been a good year for apples. As the cherry crop is being picked, apple producers are thinning and looking forward to the cooler fall weather. Dave Carlson, president of the Washington Apple Commission is very pleased with this years finish. CARLSON: We're finishing up this year on a pretty strong price note. I think that even thought this last years crop that we're finishing marketing now was the second largest crop we've ever had, it appears we're going to have this pretty well marketed prior to the new crop coming on and that's very encouraging. Carlson says there are some producers that are finished packing for the year and he comments on the next crop. CARLSON: This coming crop doesn't look to be quite as big because we've had some weather related issues with hail that has probably taken some of the crop for fresh market off the horizon and that's not good for the individual that it happened to but with that said and this crop cleaning up we're kind of looking for a good marketing year. Indicators point to a record cherry crop even with some rain damage in the mid-Columbia area. Carlson seems to think that might be an indicator for apples. CARLSON: Well you'll probably accuse me of coming up with old wives tales but you know historically that's almost true. You know this season as far as the progress is about 10 days later than last year. When we have a later season we almost always have, I guess you'd call it a vintage quality crop. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.