09/11/07 National Apple Crop

National Apple Crop. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Apple harvest continues in the Northwest and this year's crop while not likely to be a record breaker is a good quality one. Mike Bowen is the Manager of Industry Information for USApple. BOWEN: Well I would say across the country it's kind of the same forecast. Most places are looking at a good quality crop but it certainly won't be a record breaking crop either. Our members predicted the crop to come in at 212-million. Bowen says that Mother Nature seems to be the biggest reason the crop is down. BOWEN: The freeze hit the mid-Atlantic and the south-Eastern states back in the spring, back in April so that's really had a big impact on those states. I would say in other states it's just kind of related to normal weather patterns. Even though the overall numbers tend to be down, reports from around the country are that the size is pretty good. And according to Bowen, prices look good. BOWEN: Prices have been strong the last 12 months and from what I've heard have remained strong throughout this summer so I think we're heading into a new season with good strong prices and if that works out the same as it did last year, we'll see strong prices all season. And Bowen says the export market has remain firm. BOWEN: It actually looks like our exports the last 3 years have been up and then this past year was on track for that same trend so I think we are looking at a similar situation for this coming year. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.