Jan 14, 2005

Fresh Holdings up 30 Percent for January

The U.S. apple industry produced a large crop in 2004 and generated strong apple movement through December. Total apple movement in December was almost 16 percent above the five-year average for that time of year and 18 percent above the December 2003 movement level, according to a survey of apple storage facilities conducted by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple).

Total apple movement in December topped 21.2 million bushels, making it the highest level of total apple movement in December since 1998, according to the USApple survey.

Fresh apple movement also was stronger than last year and the five-year average. National movement of fresh-market apples totaled 13.5 million bushels during December 2004, the USApple January survey found. This represents a 9 percent increase over December 2003 total movement of 12.4 million bushels and a 13 percent jump over the five-year average of 11.9 million bushels.

“Apple movement really took off in December,” said James R. Cranney, USApple vice president. “The movement figures seem to lend credence to the fact that we have superior quality this year and the industry’s promotional efforts are on track.”

On a regional basis, December 2004 movement of fresh-market apples in the Northeast was 12 percent more than December 2003 but 3 percent less than the five-year average. Movement in the Southeast was 61 percent more than in 2003 and 6 percent more than the five-year average. In the Midwest, movement was down 24 percent from 2003, and 11 percent below the five-year average. The Southwest saw movement 27 percent less than December 2003 and 63 percent below the five-year average. In the Northwest, movement was 12 percent more than in December 2003 and up 24 percent from the five-year average.

January Fresh Holdings

Total fresh-market apple holdings on Jan. 1 were reported at 81.6 million bushels, an increase of 30 percent over January 2004 holdings of 62.9 million bushels, and 12 percent higher than the five-year average for holdings on that date of 72.8 million bushels.

On a regional basis, fresh holdings in the Northeast were 6 percent lower than those of Jan. 1, 2004, but 4 percent higher than the five-year average for that date. Southeastern Jan. 1, 2005, fresh holdings were 6 percent more than on Jan. 1, 2004, and 12 percent more than the five-year average for that date. In the Midwest, Jan. 1, 2005, fresh holdings were down 20 percent as compared to holdings on Jan. 1, 2004, and down 21 percent compared to the five-year average. Fresh-market apples in storage on Jan. 1, 2005 were 27 percent higher in the Southwest than on that date in 2004, but 29 percent lower than the five-year average. Northwest Jan. 1, 2005 fresh holdings were 41 percent higher than Jan. 1, 2004, holdings, and 16 percent more than the five-year average for that date.

Holdings by Variety

On a varietal basis, Jan. 1, 2005, fresh Red Delicious holdings were 28.3 million bushels, a 26 percent increase over Jan. 1, 2004, and 8 percent lower than the five-year average for holdings on that date. Fresh Golden Delicious holdings of 11.7 million bushels were up 39 percent from holdings on Jan. 1, 2004, and increased 6 percent as compared to the five-year average.

Fresh Granny Smith holdings of 9.5 million bushels increased 30 percent as compared to holdings on that date last year, and were up 34 percent as compared to the five-year average for Jan. 1. Fresh Fuji holdings of 9.4 million bushels on Jan. 1, 2005, were up 35 percent from the previous year, and 30 percent over the five-year average. Fresh Gala holdings of 8.6 million bushels were up 60 percent from holdings on Jan. 1, 2004, and increased 74 percent over the five-year average for that date.

Fresh McIntosh holdings of 2.2 million bushels on Jan. 1, 2005, were down 3 percent from the previous year, but up 7 percent from the five-year average.

Fresh Empire holdings of 1.8 million bushels on Jan. 1, 2005, decreased 16 percent as compared to last year’s holdings on that date, and were 12 percent lower than the five-year average.

Total U.S. Holdings

Total U.S. holdings of fresh and processing apples on Jan. 1, 2005, were 123.5 million bushels, a 25 percent increase from holdings on Jan. 1, 2004. The Jan. 1, 2005 holdings were 10 percent above the five-year average of 112.4 million bushels for holdings on that date.

Total holdings of fresh-market and processing apples in controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage on Jan. 1, 2005, were 104 million bushels, a 25 percent increase from 2004, and up 12 percent from the five-year average. Fresh CA holdings were 73.1 million bushels, a 27 percent increase from holdings on Jan. 1, 2004, and 12 percent more than the five-year average for holdings on that date.

Total processing apple holdings as of Jan. 1, 2005, were 41.9 million bushels, up 16 percent from 2004, and 6 percent more than the five-year average for that date.