The first apple storage report of the season shows U.S. fresh apple inventories were 7.1% below year-ago levels as of Nov. 1.
The Nov. 1 USAppleTracker reported that U.S. apple holdings totaled 109.2 million 42-pound cartons, down 7.1% from November 2020 and 14% below the five-year average of 126.5 million cartons.
Washington state, with a fresh crop of about 118 million cartons had already shipped 17 million cartons of apples by Nov. 10, and Brianna Shales, marketing director for Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers. That leaves about 100 million cartons of Washington fresh apples left to ship.
“We are encouraged about the variety mix in this year’s crop, and fruit size and finish,” Shales said.
U.S. fresh market apples on hand Nov. 1, compared with last year and the five-year average, were:
- Ambrosia 1.7 million cartons, up 11% from last year and 115% higher than the five-year average.
- Cosmic Crisp: 3.46 million cartons, 112% up from last year and about nine times higher than the five-year average;
- Fuji: 13.57 million cartons, down 15% from last year and 13% lower than the five-year average;
- Gala: 21.2 million cartons, down 12% from last year and 19% lower than the five-year average;
- Golden delicious: 5.02 million cartons, unchanged from last year and 30% lower than the five-year average;
- Granny Smith: 15.36 million, up 14.8% from last year and about 7.5% higher than the five-year average;
- Honeycrisp: 11.5 million cartons, down 25% from last year and 2% lower than the five-year average;
- Pink Lady/cripps pink: 7.42 million, up 21% from last year and 31% above the five-year average; and
- Red delicious: 18.34 million cartons, down 13% from last year and 39% below the five-year average.
The declines of red and golden delicious reflect a variety shift by growers, Shales said.
“Granny is up from last year at 18 million cartons, with great crop qualities,” she said. Shales said the fuji crop came in short of estimate for the industry at 15 million cartons but has nice color and condition.
While gala and Honeycrisp volumes are down compared with a year ago, Shales said the Pink Lady crop picked out well and has outstanding color and quality.
The Cosmic Crisp is at 3.6 million cartons, which Shales said is right in the range of earlier estimates.
“Fruit quality for Cosmic Crisp is very strong this year thanks to growing conditions and maturing trees,” she said. “All in all, there is lots to be optimistic about this crop, especially as it relates to variety mix and how it matches with consumer preference, fruit quality, color and eating qualities,” Shales said.
