Washington apples see promise in export markets

Washington state will produce 125.2 million standard 40-pound boxes of fresh apples in 2015, according to the Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA).

The forecast, made in early August, is down 10.5 percent from 2014’s record crop of 140 million boxes, but is still projected to be Washington’s third largest apple harvest behind the 128.3 million boxes marketed from the 2012 crop, according to WSTFA.

Red Delicious remains the most numerous variety in the state, with a projected 25 percent of total production. Gala is close behind at 23 percent, followed by Fuji at 13.7 percent and Granny Smith at 13 percent. Honeycrisp is forecast to come in at 7 percent of the state crop, which would move it past Golden Delicious to become the fifth-ranked variety by production volume, according to WSTFA.

The forecast is based on a survey of WSTFA members and represents a best estimate of the total volume of apples that will eventually be packed and sold on the fresh market (excluding product sent to processors). Apple harvest typically begins in early August and continues through November, and the forecast is subject to months of variable weather that can affect the final size of the crop, according to the association.

Exports

Washington’s 2015 crop is expected to return to typical sizes. For the last two seasons, the state’s crop peaked at one to two sizes larger than normal, creating challenges for export markets that traditionally prefer smaller-sized apples, according to the Washington Apple Commission (WAC).

The return to normal sizing is especially good news because of new market opportunities that have opened up in China, which earlier this year agreed to accept direct import of all U.S. apple varieties. In August, Washington shippers were gearing up for a rapid start to the season for Gala exports, a popular variety in China, according to WAC.

Historically, about one-third of the Washington apple crop is exported to more than 60 countries. The 2014 export season, however, was hampered by several challenges, including the Russian ban on U.S. agricultural exports, the West Coast port slowdown that hit just as the peak shipment season began in October, the recall of apples from a California packing facility for listeria monocytogenes contamination – which provoked panic in Asian markets and a virtual market shutdown for several weeks in January – and the strong U.S. dollar, according to WAC.

“With the West Coast port labor issues resolved and the early start to the season, the export picture is certainly looking brighter,” said Todd Fryhover, WAC’s president. “The apple commission is preparing to start the promotional activities in about 25 markets this fall, with emphasis on early markets like China and Latin America.”