In January, Denise Donohue, then-executive director of the Lansing-based Michigan Apple Committee, said she expected strong demand to exceed the supply of Michigan apples.
She had no idea then how right her prognostication would be.
An early spring warmup followed by a cold snap knocked many Michigan growers out of the market. Ontario growers also were hit and New York’s apple production was cut in half.
With all that lost supply, it’s amazing that there are so many apples in storage this fall.
Despite crop damage from a July hailstorm, Washington is expected to ship 120 million boxes, which would be the largest ever from the state.
Dec. 1 holdings were 9% more than at the same time last year and 9% above the five-year average, according to the Vienna, Va.-based U.S. Apple Association.
The bad news for grower-shippers in some regions began coming in in April.
April 23
Cold snap threatens Michigan apple orchards
By Andy Nelson, Markets Editor
Freezing weather has kept Michigan apple growers busy protecting their crops, but as of April 18, damage was limited.
The industry won’t be out of range of dangerously cold weather, however, until about mid-May.
May 14
Ontario, U.S. apple crops hurt by late April freezes
By Andy Nelson, Markets Editor
Freezing temperatures at the end of April could have a devastating effect on Ontario apple crops, and U.S. grower-shippers also were affected.
Temperatures that dipped into the 20s caused widespread damage to Ontario’s apple orchards, said Kelly Ciceran, general manager of the Vineland-based Ontario Apple Growers.
That cold snap followed an abnormally warm March, which caused trees to bloom a month earlier than normal, exposing them to late freezes.
All Ontario growers were affected by the freezes, and some lost their entire crops, according to the association. About 16,000 acres of apples are grown in Ontario each year.
May 21
Michigan apple loss reaches past 50%
By Andy Nelson, Markets Editor
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — More than half of Michigan’s apple crop — possibly much more — could be lost because of late April freezes, and the state’s southwestern fruit production is nearly a total loss.
May 28
Washington growers get lucky with big apple crop
By Tom Karst, National Editor
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