Aug 6, 2012

Processing apple prices announced

The Michigan Processing Apple Growers Marketing Committee recently negotiated the following minimum processing apple prices (for apples 2.5 inches and up) with several processors for the 2012 crop:

• Jonathan: $28/cwt.
• JonaGold, Ida Red, Crispin: $27/cwt.
• Spy: $26/cwt.
• Hard varieties (including Rome and Golden): $26/cwt.
• Soft varieties: $23/cwt.
• Straight loads of juice apples: $22/cwt.
• Under 2.5 inches in peeler loads: $20/cwt.

Birds Eye Foods (for contract purchases), Coloma Frozen Foods, Gerber Products Co., Knouse Foods, Peterson Farms Inc., Sill Farms Market and Smeltzer Orchard Co. agreed with the above minimum price schedule.

Aseltine Cider Co., Coloma Frozen Foods, Gerber Products Co. and Peterson Farms Inc. agreed with the minimum $22/cwt. juice apple price.

Burnette Foods, Cherry Growers and Indian Summer opted out of negotiations.

The Michigan Processing Apple Growers Marketing Committee estimates the state’s 2012 apple crop to be 2.7 million bushels, 10 percent of the 2011 crop of 27 million bushels.