While suffering a decline in value, the 2019 U.S. apple crop boasted increases in total volume and exports compared with the previous year.
A recap of the 2019 U.S. apple crop was part of the agenda Aug. 20 at the U.S. Apple Association’s 125th Annual Crop and Outlook Marketing Conference, a virtual event this year.
Mark Seetin, director of regulatory and industry affairs for the association, said apple exports jumped 15% in 2019-20, but the value of exports rose just 7% because of lower prices.
The rise in apple export volume for the 2019 crop was welcome, U.S. Apple Association President and CEO Jim Bair said.
“Growers export about $1 billion worth of apples annually, making trade a critical part of the industry,” Bair said in a news release. “While we are comforted to see export numbers rising after a nail-biting year of lost market share and plummeting grower revenues, we still have our work cut out for us to get back on steady ground.”
Exports for the 2019-20 season were 44.9 million cartons, up from 38.9 million the previous season but still well off the 2017 level of 53 million cartons, according to Seetin.
Crop profile
At 262 million 42-pound cartons, the 2019 crop was up 8% in volume from 2018. However, Seetin said lower prices caused the overall wholesale value to decrease from $2.95 billion for the 2018 crop to $2.75 billion, a 7% drop in value.
Apple growers are producing with greater efficiency and yields than ever, Seetin said, producing more fruit in 2019 than the 1995 crop on 37% fewer acres.
The association will release its estimate of the 2020 crop Aug. 21.
In the August crop production report released earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated the 2020 crop at 253.6 million cartons, off 3% from the 2019 crop.
The industry continues to adapt to consumer preferences by increasing production of Honeycrisp, Seetin said. Honeycrisp output is expected to increase by 12% in 2020, pushing it ahead of granny smith and fuji into third place in national production.
Red delicious lost its top spot among apple varieties to the gala apple in 2018, Seetin said.
“Projections for the current crop are that gala will continue to expand its edge over red delicious and will remain the largest volume variety produced,” Seetin said.
According to the U.S. Apple Association, the 2020 top five-produced apple varieties, in order, are gala, red delicious, Honeycrisp, granny smith and fuji.
The top three varieties account for 48% of all production, while the top five varieties represent 67% of all production.
Cosmic Crisp production is rising in Washington state, and by 2026 Seetin said the variety could reach more than 21 million cartons.
Related stories:
Consumer trust necessary for growers to meet rising food demand
Christopher Gerlach joins U.S. Apple in analytics role
U.S. Apple Association to offer Crop Outlook conference online
