Aug 23, 2019

BREAKING: 2018 US apple crop estimate – 247.7 million bushels

The U.S. Apple Association has announced its estimate of the size of the 2019 U.S. crop: 247.7 million bushels.

The estimate was given during USApple’s annual Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference held Aug. 22-23 in Chicago.

The 2019 estimate represents a 1% increase from 2018’s final crop of 244.2 million bushels, and is 1% below the five-year average.

Here’s a regional breakdown:

In the Eastern states, the 2019 estimate is 47.5 million bushels, down 4% from 49.6 bushels in 2018 and 2% below the five-year average.

The Midwest estimate is 25.2 million bushels, up 1% from 2018’s total of 25 million bushels and 1%above the five-year average.

In the Western states, the 2019 estimate is 174.9 million bushels, a 3% increase from 2018 and 1% below the five-year average.

Washington state leads the way in the 2019 forecast, with 165 million total bushels, a 3% increase from 2018 (159.5 million bushels) and 1% below the five-year average.

New York is looking at a crop of 31.5 million bushels, down 5% from the 2018 mark of 33.2 million, and matching the five-year average.

Michigan comes in at 25.2 million bushels in the forecast, a rise of 1%percent from 2018 (25 million bushels), and 1% above the five-year average.

Pennsylvania is pegged at 11.5 million bushels, down 1% from 2018 (11.6 million) and 5% below the five-year-average.

– Gary Pullano, FGN Managing Editor