Apple report shows strength of managed varieties
The U.S. fresh market apple holdings on Dec. 1 were 13.1% less than a year ago, at 102.8 million 42-pound bushels, according to the U.S. Apple Association’s Market News report.
Total processing apple holdings on Dec. 1 were 44 million bushels, just 1% more than at the same time in 2019.
Fresh apples in storage were 9.4% down from the five-year average of 113.5 million bushels, according to the report. The Dec. 1 fresh market apple holdings were about the same as in 2018.
The report notes some changes caused by newer varieties. Five-year averages for Honeycrisp is up 53%, Ambrosia is up 212%, and Cosmic Crisp, which was introduced with an unprecedented planting push in Washington, is up 2,095% year-over-year, although with just 1.42 million bushels in storage.
The five-year average for red delicious apples is down 34%, braeburns are down 71%, and golden delicious are down 36%.
Fresh apple holdings on Dec. 1, in millions of bushels, and percentage of the five-year average, were:
- Gala: 20.93, -6%
- Red delicious: 19.4, -34%
- Fuji: 14.72, 7%
- Honeycrisp: 12.32, 53%
- Granny smith: 11.32; -16%
- Cripps pink (Pink Lady): 5.93, 13%
- Golden delicious, 4.47, -36%
