Nov 20, 2008

Holdings for Fresh Apples Up and Processing Apples Down from 2007,

Holdings of fresh apples in the United States are up from a year ago, while holdings of processing apples are down, according to a storage survey released Nov. 13 by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), the national trade association for the apple industry.

In a Nov.1 survey of U.S. apple storage facilities, USApple found that total apple holdings in storage were 152.8 million bushels, up 4 percent from the same date a year ago and nearly equal to the five-year average.

Holdings of apples for fresh market, at 113.6 million bushels, reflected a 13 percent increase over the 100.8 million bushels reported in November 2007 and were 9 percent more than the five-year average of 104.7 million bushels.

Total holdings of apples for processing were 39 million bushels, down 16 percent from 2007 and down 20 percent from the five-year average, according to the survey.

On a regional basis, the November survey shows that the Northwest, Southwest and Southeast regions have an increase in fresh holdings compared to last year and compared to historical averages. Fresh holdings in the Northwest were reported at 95.7 million bushels, 17 percent higher than a year earlier and 12 percent higher than the five-year average. Fresh holdings in the Southwest were reported at 1.6 million bushels, up 104 percent and 47 percent, respectively. And in the Southeast, fresh holdings were at 1.8 million bushels, up 50 percent from a year ago and 14 percent over five years. Fresh holdings in the Northeast were reported at 9.4 million bushels, a decrease of 17
percent from holdings a year ago and down 10 percent from the five-year average.
The Midwest region also reported a drop of 5.1 million bushels, down 9 percent from a year ago and 14 percent over the five-year average.

On a varietal basis, nearly all categories in the survey showed an increase in supply.
There are more Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, McIntosh, Fuji and Gala apples in storage this year than in November 2007. Empire apples were the only surveyed category showing a decline.

Fresh Red Delicious holdings were at nearly 34.9 million bushels on Nov. 1, a 7 percent increase compared to 2007. At 15.3 million bushels, fresh Golden Delicious holdings were up 27 percent. Fresh Granny Smith holdings increased to 15 million, up 25 percent. McIntosh holdings of 2.7 million bushels reflect a 5 percent increase. Fuji holdings of 13.6 million bushels were up 29 percent. And fresh Gala holdings of 15.7 million bushels were up 10 percent from holdings a year ago.

Complete results of the storage survey are published in the November 2008 edition of
USApple’s Market News, which can be downloaded at www.usapple.org/media/publications/index.cfm#marketnews.