The 2019 SweeTango apple harvest has begun and first reports are two thumbs up.
Harvest began in the Western U.S. in mid-August, while picking for Eastern and Midwest growing regions will begin in early September, according to a news release.
SweeTango orchards are in Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Nova Scotia, according to a news release.
Growers are reporting that the overall crop volume is looking to be higher than last year and that fruit quality is exceptional, with minimal russetting.
“The orchards have ripened well and the harvest is now underway,” Jennifer Parkhill, executive director of the Next Big Thing grower cooperative, said in the release.
The Next Big Thing cooperative markets SweeTango apples.
“The new crop will be on retail shelves shortly, and consumers can look for large attractive fruit on display or smaller fruit for school lunches,” she said in the release.
In Washington state, Stemilt Growers started harvesting SweeTango in mid-August, Brianna Shales, Stemilt communications manager, said in the release. “It’s looking like a beautiful crop with average sizing and great quality, and we look forward to start getting it to grocery stores shortly.”
Rod Farrow, co-owner of Fish Creek Orchards in New York, the bloom was roughly two weeks later than normal, but growing conditions were otherwise ideal with plenty of heat and moisture over the summer.
This year’s harvest will yield large fruit sizes desired by retail customers, Mark Russell, co-owner of Two of Clubs Orchards in New York, said in the release.
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