Jul 13, 2007

Apple Holdings Remain Below Five-year Levels

Apple supplies from the 2006 crop remain below five-year average levels, leaving prices strong before the start of the 2007-08 market year, according to the U.S. Apple Association’s (USApple) July 1 survey of apple storage facilities.

Total U.S. holdings of fresh and processing apples on July 1 were 15.5 million bushels, 1 percent more than holdings on July 1, 2006, but 6 percent less than the five-year average of 16.5 million bushels. Total fresh-market apple holdings of 10.6 million bushels this year were 6 percent more than last year but 5 percent less than the five-year average.

On a regional basis, fresh holdings in the Northeast were 5 percent lower than holdings last year and 32 percent lower than the five-year average. Southeast fresh holdings were 99 percent higher than last year and 132 percent above the five-year average. Northwest fresh holdings were 6 percent more than on July 1, 2006, but 4 percent less than the five-year average. No data are available for holdings in the Midwest, since Michigan conducted its last storage survey of the season June 1.

No fresh apples remained in storage in the Southwest. Total processing apple holdings were 4.9 million bushels, an 8 percent decrease from 2006 and 7 percent less than the five-year average.

Varietal holdings

On a varietal basis, fresh Red Delicious holdings were 6.8 million bushels this year, a 24 percent increase from 2006 but 1 percent below the five-year average. Fresh Granny Smith holdings of 1.8 million bushels increased 28 percent from 2006 and were 55 percent more than the five-year average. Fresh Golden Delicious holdings of 850,000 bushels decreased 52 percent compared to last year and were down 54 percent compared to the five-year average. Fresh Fuji holdings of 605,000 bushels were down 14 percent compared to last year and down 10 percent compared to the five-year average. Fresh Gala holdings were 90,000 bushels, down 43 percent from 2006 levels but 45 percent more than the five-year average.

Fresh Empire holdings were 72,000 bushels, 178 percent more than 2006 but 34 percent less than the five-year average. McIntosh holdings were 10,000 bushels, up 25 percent from 2006 holdings but down 83 percent from the five-year average.

Fresh apple movement

June 2007 fresh apple movement of 6.4 million bushels was 15 percent lower than June 2006 and 5 percent less than the five-year average. Movement of fresh-market apples from controlled atmosphere (CA) storage was 15 percent lower than June 2006 and 4 percent less than the five-year average. Regionally, movement of fresh-market apples in the Northeast was 24 percent more than in June 2006 and 12 percent higher than the five-year average.

June 2007 movement in the Southeast was 141 percent more than June 2006 and 120 percent higher than the five-year average. Movement of fresh-market apples from the Northwest was down 23 percent from June 2006 and 10 percent less than the five-year average.

There was no fresh apple movement in the Southwest; supplies were sold before the month began. Total movement of 10.1 million bushels in June was 16 percent less than in June 2006 and 5 percent less than the five-year average of 10.6 million bushels.