Latest News From Apples

University of California economists estimate U.S. exporters of 10 fruits and nuts could see a loss of $2.64 billion a year due to tariffs — and up to $3.34 billion a year for potential effects on other markets.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., Summerland, British Columbia, has made recent hires, including JF Gamelin as director of sales.

U.S. apple production for 2018 has been estimated at 11.5 billion pounds, up less than 1% compared with a year ago.

Fruit growers have to deal with birds flocking in to eat their cherries, apples, blueberries and more, and Starr Ranch Growers has seen positive results from a high-tech, humane deterrent.

In a nod to the apple’s rapid growth, Pazazz has a new brand manager at Honeybear Brands, Kristi Harris.

European apple production in 2018 will be way up and the region’s pear output will grow moderately, according to a new forecast.

Minnesota apple growers will market the new MN55 variety under the First Kiss brand name this fall.

Washington apple marketers are forecasting a fresh crop of 131 million 40-pound boxes in the 2018-19 season, a 2% drop from the previous crop of 134 million boxes.

The U.S., which won a World Trade Organization ruling against Indonesia in 2017 concerning import restrictions on apples, grapes, potatoes, onions and other items, says the country has not changed its policies.

The government of India has given Washington apple shippers a six-week delay on the implementation of a 25% retaliatory tariff against U.S. apples.

Previewing the Aug. 23-24 2018 Apple Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference, U.S. Apple Association president Jim Bair talked with The Packer’s editor Tom Karst July 31.

Gianna Pennacchia is joining New York Apple Sales’ sales team.

See Fresh Trends data on the demographics of who's buying apples in the U.S. market.

John Woodall is the Michigan Apple Committee’s new regional manager for the northern U.S.

See which region of the U.S. has shoppers most likely to buy apples, along with purchasing habits by age group, ethnicity and choice between conventional and organic options.

Get ready for a rave in the produce aisle.

If retaliatory tariffs continue on U.S. apples, cherries, and other commodities, tree fruit grower Cass Gebbers told Congress to leave all options on the table to give relief to growers.

Charging that retaliatory tariffs by China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and Turkey are against global trade rules, the U.S. has filed disputes against those countries at the World Trade Organization.

Yakima, Wash.-based Proprietary Variety Management has added Jill Burbery to its marketing staff as marketing project manager.

Tony Lynn Adams has joined the Washington Apple Commission as the communications outreach coordinator.

Amid chatter that the Trump administration may try to help ease the pain to growers, China planned to up its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports.

The Packer is calling for nominations for the 2018 Apple Man (or Woman) of the Year.

Watch out North America, New Zealand fruit is coming with size, volume and promotions this summer.

Pennsylvania apple marketer Fred Hess, 70, died June 14.

A new television advertisement from the U.S. Apple Association and Farmers for Free Trade calls on President Trump to end the trade war and support free trade.

President Donald Trump has announced plans to put in place 25% tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, and apples and cherries are among the items that will be affected by retaliatory tariffs.

With the 2017-18 sales season all wrapped up, branded apple varieties SnapDragon and RubyFrost both logged significant sales increases over last year.

Apple grower-shippers in New York report a promising bloom set up by near perfect weather throughout the state in May.

The U.S. Apple Association reports fresh market apples in storage on June 1 totaled 31.6 million cartons, up 24% compared with the same time a year ago.

Sliced apple companies Farmington Fresh Cuts, Stockton, Calif., and Fresh Innovations, Oxnard, Calif., are merging.

Spring bloom has come and gone for SweeTango apple trees across the U.S. and Canada, and growers are uniformly positive about volume, sizing and timing of the 2018 crop.

(UPDATED, June 7) Mexico has delivered on its promised tariffs on U.S. fresh apples, frozen potatoes and dried cranberries in response to the President Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs.

Fruit and vegetable grower-shippers are asking consumers to get healthy by skinny dipping — dunking fruits and vegetables into healthy dips — this summer.

(UPDATED,  3:48 p.m.)  U.S. fruit exporters are facing more stormy weather.

Wendy Brannen, who led communication and public relations efforts for Vidalia onions and U.S. apples, is the new director of policy communication for the American Soybean Association.

Wendy Brannen, who led communication and public relations efforts for Vidalia onions and U.S. apples, is the new director of policy communication for the American Soybean Association.

India has notified the World Trade Organization that it intends to slap a retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples and other goods in response to America’s tariffs on steel and aluminum from India.

Washington state growers Chelan Fruit and Gebbers Farms have signed a license agreement to grow and sell Dazzle apples, a red apple variety originating from New Zealand.

The Giumarra Cos., Los Angeles, will have more volume of Lemonade apples, and more marketing to promote them.

Two New York apples varieties are about to get their moment in the spotlight with an appearance on Lifetime Network’s program “The Balancing Act.”

Alex Ott is leaving the California Apple Commission and other commodity boards to become the full-time executive director of the American Pecan Council.

Alex Ott is leaving the California Apple Commission and other commodity boards to become the full-time executive director of the American Pecan Council.

Volume of Honeycrisp apples sold at retail in March jumped 31.5% over year-ago levels, according to the latest Stemilt Growers Fruit Tracker Fast Facts.

Yakima-based FirstFruits Marketing of Washington has crowned a winner of the SupercrispiOpalicious Jingle contest for Opal apples.

Cashmere, Wash.-based Crunch Pak, known for its sliced apples, recently received the Washington State Food Processor of the Year Award as part of Seattle Business magazine’s Washington Manufacturing Awards.

For the third year in a row, runners at the Boston Marathon and associated events were treated to Rainier Fruit Co. apples, with almost 100,000 apples handed out at the events.

Supplies of U.S. fresh apples on hand May 1 were up a heaping helping over volume remaining the same time a year ago, but several varieties are holding strong on price.

With New Zealand shipments arriving in U.S. ports in mid-April, Koru apples are reaching markets across the country as May begins.

As NAFTA renegotiations near an end, Farmers for Free Trade continues its message that the tri-lateral free trade agreement is important for agriculture and farmers.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers will soon be the exclusive marketer of cherries and apples from Yakima, Wash.-based Hansen Fruit Co.