May 1 fresh apple holdings were down 13% compared with a year ago, according to the latest U.S. Apple Association market report.
According to the May 1 MarketNews report, the U.S. fresh-market apple holdings of 38.6 million bushel cartons on May 1 were 13% lower than year-ago holdings of 44.2 million cartons and 2% less than the five-year average of 39.2 million cartons.
By variety, the May 1 holdings, compared with a year ago, were:
- Fuji: 4.71 million cartons, down 17%;
- Gala: 7.51 million cartons, down 4%;
- Golden delicious: 1.67 million cartons, down 43%;
- Granny smith: 4.85 million cartons, down 42%;
- Honeycrisp: 2.67 million cartons, up 9%;
- Cripps pink/Pink Lady: 2.23 million cartons, up 17%; and
- Red delicious: 11.9 million cartons, down 1%.
Washington state accounted for about 92% of the remaining 2018 apple crop, according to the U.S. Apple report.
U.S. Department of Agriculture shipping point prices on May 7 for Washington size 88 red delicious were $15 to $18 per carton, about the same as last year at the same time.
Washington golden delicious size 88s were $23 to $28 per carton on May 7, up from $19 to $22 per carton last year. May 7 granny smith prices for 88s were $28 to $34, up from $20 to $26 last year. Honeycrisp prices on May 7 were $48 to $57 per carton, up from $46 to $54 per carton a year ago. Gala prices on May 7 were $20 to $24 per carton, up from $16 to 22 per carton a year ago.
Washington apple business was steady in May, said Scott Marboe, director of marketing for Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers, Wenatchee, Wash.
“The imports have started arriving, but overall there are good numbers on Honeycrisp, there are good numbers of galas and the (quality) of Pink Lady apples is excellent,” he said May 7.
Shipments of Washington’s 2018 crop will continue to the start of the 2019 season, he said.
Though the pace of exports has slowed, shipments of the 2018 crop were still ongoing to India, Mexico, Canada, the Middle East and Asian markets, he said.
