May 12, 2009

Apple Holdings Just Under 50 Million Bushels

There were 49.7 million bushels of 2008-crop apples in U.S. storages still to be sold on May 1, according to the U.S. Apple Association’s market news report released May 12.

USApple reported fresh-market apple holdings of 35.5 million bushels on May 1, a 42 percent increase over May 2008 holdings of 25 million bushels, and 32 percent more than the five-year average.

Total processing apple holdings were 14.1 million bushels, 2 percent below year-ago levels and 2 percent below the five-year average of 14.5 million bushels.

Total movement was up 6 percent over last year and 11 percent above the five-year average.

Most of the apples – 40.7 million bushels – remain in the Northwest, 10 million more than last year and 27 percent more than the five-year average. The Northeast has nearly 6.8 million bushels, 21 percent more than the five-year average. Other regions have fewer bushels than usual.

Prices to growers continue to sag, with April prices for all fresh apples falling to just under 22 cents a pound, down about 13 cents from last year and about a nickel below the five-year average, according to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

For the full report, visit www.usapple.org.