The U.S. Apple Association, the Northwest Horticultural Council and other organizations have asked Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to consider the needs of tree fruit growers when allocating funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
In an April 10 letter to Perdue, tree fruit groups said that growers may endure losses over a longer time period compared with growers of more perishable crops. The letter said that set of costs includes diminished trade opportunities, higher labor and packing costs, and potential shortages of H-2A workers this year when apple harvest begins.
“Growers of tree fruit are suffering direct but as yet largely unquantified COVID-19 losses on fruit harvested in 2019,” according to the letter.
Protective measures in packinghouses have cut productivity and capacity by an estimated 15% to 20%, according to the letter, while labor costs have increased by an estimated 50 cents to $1 per box of fruit.
Availability of H-2A labor for apple harvest is a big concern, the groups said.
“It is easily conceivable that a late summer slowdown or shutdown at the border would result in millions of dollars in tree fruit left unharvested,” according to the letter.
Export apple prices to Mexico have dropped $2 a carton since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the letter.
“Absent a rapid and dramatic return to a normal international trade environment, typical annual exports of about $1.5 billion will not be attained and increased inventory in the U.S. will overhang the market and depress prices,” the letter said.
The upcoming cherry season will be challenging, with expectations of reduced air cargo capacity for export sales.
“Therefore, we request that whatever mechanism you create to distribute CARES Act funding be flexible and adaptable to impacts that are currently unknown,” the letter said.
“A fair portion of the funds targeted toward specialty crops that experience losses during this current time frame may need to be held in reserve for later months to support tree fruit growers,” the letter said.
The letter was signed by:
- California Apple Commission;
- Michigan Apple Committee;
- New York Apple Association;
- Northwest Horticultural Council
- Pennsylvania Apple Program
- U.S. Apple Association
- Washington Apple Commission
- Washington State Fruit Commission
- Washington State Tree Fruit Association
In related news, the U.S. Apple Association said it has created a web page for COVI-19 resources for apple growers, industry members, and the press at the group’s website.
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