Jan 10, 2007
2007 Begins With Robust Apple Movement, Lower Holdings

The U.S. apple industry is starting 2007 with fewer apples in storage and strong consumer demand keeping movement robust. The reported supply of apples in storage was lower than January 2006 levels, according to a survey of apple storage facilities by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple).

At the same time, the brisk movement of apples out of storage facilities supported reports from across the industry that apple demand remained high. Apple movement ran about 13 percent higher than last year and about 11 percent above the five-year average, according to the survey.

Total U.S. holdings of fresh and processing apples on Jan. 1, 2007, were 114.2 million bushels, 2 percent below Jan. 1, 2006 levels and 3 percent above the five-year average of 111.3 million bushels. Total fresh-market apple holdings on Jan. 1, 2007, were reported at 75.2 million bushels, a decrease of 1 percent from January 2006 holdings of 76 million bushels, but 5 percent higher than the five-year average of 71.9 million bushels. Total processing apple holdings as of Jan. 1, 2007, were 39 million bushels, down 2 percent from 2006, and 1 percent less than the five-year average.

Total holdings of fresh-market and processing apples in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage on Jan. 1, 2007, were 94.7 million bushels, a 3 percent decrease from 2006 but up 1 percent from the five-year average. Fresh CA holdings as of Jan. 1, 2007, were 66.8 million bushels, a 4 percent decrease from 2006 but 3 percent more than the five-year average.

National movement of fresh-market apples is substantially greater than last year’s rate and stronger than the five-year average. Fresh-market movement totaled 12.9 million bushels during December 2006, a 5 percent increase over the December 2005 total of 12.2 million bushels, and 7 percent greater than the five-year average of 12.1 million bushels. Regular storage accounted for 5.6 million bushels of December 2006 movement – a decrease of 7 percent from last year’s number – while 7.3 million bushels of movement were from CA storage, an increase of 18 percent over December 2005.

Regionally, December 2006 Northeast fresh-market movement was 8 percent more than December 2005, and 11 percent more than the five-year average. Movement in the Southeast was 54 percent above 2005 and 80 percent more than the five-year average. Movement in the Midwest was 22 percent less than December 2005 and 9 percent less than the five-year average. In the Southwest, movement was 47 percent more than December 2005 and 7 percent more than the five-year average. In the Northwest, movement was 6 percent higher than December 2005 and the five-year average.

On a regional basis, fresh holdings in the Northeast were 10 percent higher than holdings on Jan. 1, 2006, and 6 percent higher than the five-year average. Southeast fresh holdings were 9 percent less than Jan. 1, 2006, and 4 percent less than the five-year average. In the Midwest, Jan. 1, 2007, fresh holdings were up 33 percent over 2006, and up 28 percent compared to the five-year average. Fresh-market apples in storage on Jan. 1, 2007, were 7 percent lower in the Southwest than on that date in 2006, and 11 percent lower than the five-year average. Northwest Jan. 1, 2007, fresh holdings were 4 percent lower than Jan. 1, 2006 holdings, but 3 percent more than the five-year average.

On a varietal basis, 2007 fresh Red Delicious holdings were 28.6 million bushels, an 11 percent increase over 2006 and 5 percent higher than the five-year average.

Fresh Granny Smith holdings of 9.8 million bushels increased 1 percent compared to holdings last year, and were up 20 percent compared to the five-year average. Fresh Fuji holdings of 8.1 million bushels on Jan. 1, 2007 were up 1 percent from the previous year and increased 6 percent from the five-year average. Fresh Golden Delicious holdings of 8 million bushels were down 33 percent from last year and 26 percent below the five-year average. Fresh Gala holdings of 7.5 million bushels were down 7 percent from holdings on Jan. 1, 2006, but increased 16 percent over the five-year average for that date. Fresh Empire holdings of 1.9 million bushels increased 25 percent compared to last year’s holdings and were 7 percent higher than the five-year average. Fresh McIntosh holdings of 1.6 million bushels on Jan. 1, 2007 were up 11 percent from the previous year, but down 11 percent from the five-year average.


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