Jul 13, 2006

Apple Holdings 25 Percent Below Last Year

Apple supplies from the 2005 crop remain well below average levels, setting the stage for strong demand and prices to start the 2006-2007 market year, according to the U.S. Apple Association’s July 1 survey of apple storage facilities.

Total U.S. holdings of fresh and processing apples from the 2005 crop on July 1 were 15.4 million bushels, 25 percent less than holdings on July 1, 2005, and 14 percent less than the five-year average of 17.8 million bushels.

Total fresh-market apple holdings of 10 million bushels on July 1 were 29 percent less than at the same time last year and 19 percent less than the five-year average. On a regional basis, fresh holdings in the Northeast were 42 percent lower than holdings on July 1, 2005, and 32 percent lower than the five-year average for that date. Southeast fresh holdings were 295 percent higher than a year ago and 52 percent above the five-year average. Northwest July 1 fresh holdings were 29 percent less than on July 1, 2005, and 17 percent less than the five-year average for that date. No data are available for holdings in the Midwest since Michigan conducted its last storage survey of the season June 1.

Total processing apple holdings as of July 1 were 5.4 million bushels, a 17 percent decrease from July 1, 2005, and 1 percent less than the five-year average.

On a varietal basis, July 1 fresh Red Delicious holdings were 5.5 million bushels, a 32 percent decrease from 2005 and 30 percent below the five-year average. Fresh Golden Delicious holdings of 1.8 million bushels decreased 29 percent compared to last year’s holdings and were down 8 percent compared to the five-year average. Granny Smith holdings of 1.4 million bushels were up 2 percent from 2005 and 20 percent above the five-year average. Fresh Fuji holdings of 701,000 bushels on July 1 were down 46 percent compared to last year’s holdings on that date but were up 3 percent compared to the five-year average. Fresh Gala holdings on July 1 were 159,000 bushels, more than 15 times July 1, 2005, levels, and more than four times the five-year average. Fresh Empire holdings were 26,000 bushels, 71 percent lower than 2005 and 80 percent less than the five-year average. McIntosh holdings on July 1 were 8,000 bushels, down 93 percent from holdings on July 1, 2005, and down 88 percent from the five-year average.

June 2006 fresh apple movement of 7.6 million bushels was 13 percent lower than June 2005 but 15 percent more than the five-year average. Movement of fresh-market apples from controlled atmosphere (CA) storage was 6 percent lower than June 2005, but 17 percent more than the five-year average. Regionally, movement of fresh-market apples in the Northeast was 24 percent less than June 2005 and 13 percent lower than the five-year average. June 2006 movement in the Southeast was 375 percent more than June 2005 and 12 percent higher than the five-year average. Movement of fresh-market apples from the Northwest was down 9 percent from June 2005 but 22 percent more than the five-year average for the month. No data are available in the Midwest since Michigan conducted its last storage survey of the season June 1.

Total movement of 12 million bushels in June was 12 percent less than June 2005 but 15 percent more than the five-year average of 10.4 million bushels.