U.S. fresh-market apple holdings on March 1 are down 10% compared with year-ago levels, according to the latest report from the U.S. Apple Association.
The March 1 inventory of 65.5 million cartons was down 10% from 73.1 million cartons in 2018 and 5% less than the five-year average of 69.2 million cartons.
March 1 holdings of fresh apple varieties, with the percentage change from a year ago, were:
- Fuji: 8.06 million cartons, down 9%;
- Galas: 12.86 million cartons, down 8%;
- Golden delicious: 2.94 million cartons, down 39%;
- Granny smith: 7.42 million cartons, down 38%;
- Honeycrisp: 5.07 million cartons, up 17%;
- Cripps pink: 3.6 million cartons, up 9%;
- Red delicious: 18.6 million cartons, down 5%.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported March 7 prices of Washington size 72 apples were:
- Red delicious: $17-19, compared with $16-17 a year ago;
- Golden delicious: $24-28, compared with $21-26 a year ago;
- Fuji: $17-24, compared with $18-24 a year ago;
- Granny smith: $28-34, compared with $30-38 a year ago;
- Gala: $19-26, compared with $19-24 a year ago; and
- Honeycrisp: $44-52, compared with $45-52 a year ago.
The USDA reported that total U.S. apple exports in 2018 were $1.01 billion, up 4% compared with 2017.
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