Apple Estimate for 2023 Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. The Washington State Tree Fruit Association has released its forecast for the 2023 fresh apple crop.
WSTFA President, Jon DeVaney says it’s good news with a full crop estimate of just over 134 million 40-pound boxes of apples, 28.8% better than last year …
DeVANEY … “Yeah, you know, after the last two years with the heat dome in 2021 and then such a cold and snowy spring in 2022 that we had a much smaller crop, to actually have somewhat normal weather and pretty close to the average crop over the few years forecast for this is great news.”
The numbers, DeVaney says are a bit deceiving …
DeVANEY … “It’s a big increase, but that’s just because last year was so small. The real key point is that we’re back to normal. You know, we’re back to a normal sized crop, what is normal for us. Last year was just so exceptionally small.”
Small enough, DeVaney says that we appreciate normal …
DeVANEY … “To have ranged from the mid-120s to the low-130s for the last several years and then to drop down to 104, laugh, was a big drop. And so, we’re increasing back to normal.”
And apple harvest, DeVaney says has begun …
DeVANEY … “Some people were picking around the first of August, so some of that harvest has already begun for some growers, yeah.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on the WSTFA forecast for this year’s fresh apple crop.
