Packer TV: Sustainability drives sales, New York apple harvest and Florida citrus

Trend watcher Nielsen says new numbers show the idea of sustainability helps sell produce.

It says the average price for a product marketed as sustainable is 35 percent more than the average product.

Nielsen product insider adds that sustainable packaging materials are up 2.5 percent, sustainable farming, which is classified by Nielsen as organic, GMO-Free, or made with organic ingredients, grew more than 11 percent. Sustainable production methods, including renewable energy and being sustainability certified, increased more than 4 percent – all in the past year.

It appears New York’s apple crop is rebounding from last year’s smaller-sized crop. A spokesman for the New York Apple Association told our partners at the Packer that most growers are using the adjective “good” to describe the crop.

There were some concerns early on when the tree stands felt an early warm-up during the winter.

The apple association says growers in the Hudson Valley in southern New York should start harvest by mid-August.

Early estimates put the New York apple crop around 29-million bushels, just under the average year.

The final forecast for the 16’-17’ Florida orange crop shows disease continuing to eat away at production.

USDA expects nearly 69 million 90 pound boxes, down 16 percent from last year and almost 30 percent lower than 2015.

And while the final number is lower than last year, the USDA actually raised its expectations in this latest report.

California orange production was also lower this season.