The apple industry had 78.9 million (42-pound) bushels of fresh-market apples in storage as of Feb. 1, 12% less than the same time in 2018, and 7% off the five-year average.
Apples destined for the processing market are seeing similar drops, with 14% less on Feb. 1 than at the same time last year, and a drop of 13% compared to the five-year average, according to the U.S. Apple Association’s monthly Market News report.
The top fresh-market varieties on Feb. 1, with percent changes from last year’s storage (and % change from five-year average), according to the apple association, were:
- Red delicious — 21.65 million bushels, down 12% (-19%);
- Gala — 15.48 million bushels, down 14% (4%);
- Fuji — 10.15 million bushels, down 4% (12%);
- Granny smith — 8.52 million bushels, down 59% (-20%);
- Honeycrisp — 6.54 million bushels up 12% (123%);
- Cripps pink/Pink Lady — 4.11 million bushels, up 0.5% (18%); and
- Golden delicious — 3.61 million bushels, down 62% (-47%).
Regional fresh apple holdings for Feb. 1 were (in bushels):
- Northeast — 5.67 million;
- Southeast — 354,000;
- Midwest — 2.96 million;
- Southwest — 168,500; and
- Northwest — 78.87 million.
