08/13/07 Forecast calls for smaller apple crop, record wine grape production

Washington Ag August 13, 2007 The first estimate of Washington's 2007 apple crop has been issued by the Washington Bureau of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Joe Ross with NASS say the state is forecast to have a smaller crop this year. Ross: "We are forecasting 5.40 billion pounds. That is down 45 from last year. It is 5% below 2005. Nationally, production is forecast at 9.28 billion pounds, which is down 7% from last year and 4% below 2005." The Agricultural Statistics Service says hard frosts during October and November 2006 followed by a cold spring were factors that contributed to Washington's reduced apple crop. Many growers experienced a poor return bloom this spring, particularly on Red and Golden Delicious varieties. Washington wine grapes however, had favorable pollination weather this year and when added to increased acreage coming on line, NASS's Ross says the state's wine grape crop is forecast at a record 131-thousand tons. Ross: "That's nine percent above a year ago." Ross says Washington's juice grape crop is forecast at 250-thousand tons, 28 percent above the 2006 crop. I'm Bob Hoff.