Organic Apple Production '24 Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. As Washington apple growers wrap up another productive harvest season, they also continue providing nearly all of the nation’s organic apples.
Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, says organic certification takes time and has slowed the past couple of years …
DeVANEY … “It’s leveled off somewhat at the moment. Organic conversion tends to go stair-step rather than
falling directly, a linier growth with consumer demand because it is a three-year certification process.”
Demand, DeVaney says is just one of the factors …
DeVANEY … “And many of the certifiers have been challenged with additional organic enforcement requirements that the federal government has put forth. And so, going through that process and dealing with organic certification while all of the certification programs are stretched thin right now has slowed some of that additional conversion that might otherwise take place.
DeVaney says the most recent USDA numbers show apples overall are still 16% of the Washington’s Farm Gate ag production pre-packing values …
DeVANEY … “Those values can change after that but still, a big part of Washington’s agricultural production, the number one crop. And when you take all of our tree fruits together, it’s between 25 and 30%, depending on the year, of the state’s agricultural production value. So, an important part of our state economy.”
DeVaney says this year’s overall apple forecast is for 124-million boxes in Washington.
