Fresh apple holdings down by double digits

U.S. fresh apple holdings on Nov. 1 were 12% below the same time last year, according to the first storage report of the season from the U.S. Apple Association.

According to the survey, fresh apple holdings on Nov. 1 were 117.5 million (42-pound) cartons, 12% less than the inventories the same time a year ago.

Processing holdings were 45 million cartons, 6% less than the same time last year. Total apples in storage on Nov. 1 were 162.5 million cartons, 10% less than a year ago and 4% below the 5-year average for that date.

The U.S. Apple fresh inventories on Nov. 1, with percent change compared with a year ago:

• Gala: 24.2 million cartons, down 15%; and
• Red delicious: 21.17 million cartons,down 24%;
• Honeycrisp: 15.34 million cartons, up 3.6%;
• Granny smith: 13.37 million cartons, down 15%;
• Golden delicious: 5.01 million cartons, down 38%.
• Cosmic Crisp: 1.631 million cartons, up 533%;