Aug 1, 2013
New York state apple crop showing rebound

New York state apple growers are anticipating a strong crop, according to a report issued in a July 25 conference call. Growers forecast the 2013 New York apple crop would meet the state’s five-year average production of 29 million bushels, and recent plantings now coming into production may push that to exceed 30 million bushels.

This year’s crop improvement comes after early-season freezes last year decimated much of the state’s crop in the bud; the 2012 crop was estimated at 17.1 million bushels.

In the call hosted by New York Apple Association (NYAA), leading growers said this year’s crop would be 100 percent or more than their typical yield due to better weather conditions and the new plantings over the past five to six years that are now coming into production.

The first shipments of apples are expected to arrive at market in mid-August. New York state apple shippers said they would have more supplies of popular varieties including HoneyCrisp, Gala, McIntosh and Empire.

“We want retailers to know that we have more than rebounded from last year, thanks to much more benevolent weather and smart growers who’ve been planting more of what consumers want,” said NYAA President Jim Allen in a press release.

Allen said harvest bins, packing capacity and storage space are sufficient to allow an orderly progression to market.

To build buyer demand for the 2013 crop, NYAA has focused its advertising on new taglines, including “from blossom to awesome” and “live from New York!”




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