Nov 13, 2023

Apple holdings increase, varieties expand

Fresh and processing apple inventories are reported higher in early November this year than in the previous year, according to a Nov. 13 report from the U.S. Apple Association.

Similarly, varieties in storage also expanded.

According to the survey, the total number of apples in storage on Nov. 1 was 190.7 million bushels, 32.4% more than last November’s total of 144 million bushels and 19.8% more than the 5-year average for that date, according to a news release.

Fresh apple holdings for 2023/24 totaled 140.2 million bushels, 36.1% more than the inventories reported for last November. Processing holdings for 2023/24 totaled 50.6 million bushels, 23.2% more than 2022/23 on Nov. 1.

While Washington, New York, Virginia, Oregon, North Carolina, Maryland, Idaho and California reported increases in storage volume, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts registered decreasing storage volume.

Washington’s increase was 38%, 45% for New York, 13% for Virginia, 25% for Maryland, 113% for California, 184% for Idaho, and 36% for North Carolina.

Michigan volume was down 7.6% while Pennsylvania’s declined 1.9%.

Leading varieties, in order of use, are Honeycrisp, Gala, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady/Cripps Pink, Cosmic Crisp, Envy, Ambrosia, Rome, McIntosh, Idared, Empire and York. All those varieties saw increases with the exception of Empires.

The biggest gaining varieties were Ambrosia at 70%, Honeycrisp at 62%, Granny Smith at 61%, Red Delicious at 44%, Golden Delicious at 42%, Pink Lady/Cripps Pink at 41%, and Cosmic Crisp at 40% compared to the previous year.

The report captures more than 95% of the national storage capacity, according to USApple.

Read the complete report here.