03/21/07 Apples In Demand

Apples in demand. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. The latest US Apple Association nationwide survey of storage facilities is out and it appears apple demand is still strong. US Apples Shannon Schaffer. SCHAFFER: We talk to them about what apples they have in storage and then we use that information to kind of look and analyze where the marketing situation is for the industry at any given point. Our last report which is as of March 1st really showed that there was still a strong demand out there for apples by consumers and that it was a really good position for the apple industry to be in at this time. And out storage levels, the amount of apples that are still in storage are actually below the 5-year average so that's a good sign. According to Schaffer, the levels of apples in storage is below the 5-year average. SCHAFFER: What we are seeing now is that apples are still moving out of storage faster this year than they have over the past 5-year average and as much as 4% over that 5-year average so that's a good sign that demand is really up and that people are still interested in what the apple industry has to offer. And Schaffer says the price is still holding. SCHAFFER: Seeing a lot of movement in a lot of different kinds of apples. Prices are still  based on what we're seeing based on a national average  still holding high above last year and above the year before. Of course input costs for everything from fuel to labor has gone up so there's always a negative side to that but at least growers are starting from a little bit higher point on the scale. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.