Apple Estimates for 2024 Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Apple harvest is underway for the earlier varieties here in Washington state and growers seem to be happy with how things are shaping up.
Washington State Tree Fruit Association President, Jon
DeVaney …
DeVANEY … “Every August 1st we survey our members for their forecast for how much fruit they expect to harvest and their projections on how much that will be in fresh shipments for the coming season. And this year we’re back to a more normal crop size. The forecast is for 124-million boxes in Washington.”
This, DeVaney says after a couple of up and down years …
DeVANEY … “Last year we were up to 136-million and the year before that we were down at a 104-million, and the two years before that we were in the low 120’s. So, we’re back to a more normalized kind of crop size after a little bit of a roller-coaster couple of years.”
DeVaney says that’s the thing about weather …
DeVANEY … “When we had that really cool spring a couple of years ago, for the 2022 crop, that really resulted in a lot of poor pollination and a much smaller crop.”
Overall, DeVaney says things are looking good …
DeVANEY … “Having a much more normal sized crop has led to a good deal of optimism that this will be a little easier crop to get harvested and to market over the coming year.”
Listen tomorrow for more on this year’s “normal-sized” Washington apple crop.
