Processing And Fresh Holdings Down 10 Percent

U.S. fresh-market apple holdings on Nov. 1 were 100.5 million bushels – 7 percent less than a year ago, but 16 percent greater than Nov. 1, 2003, according to the U.S. Apple Association’s (USApple) November survey of apple storage facilities.

Total U.S. Holdings

Total U.S. holdings of fresh and processing apples on Nov. 1 were 147.5 million bushels, a 10 percent decrease from holdings on Nov. 1, 2004. The Nov. 1 holdings were 12 percent above the November 2003 holdings of 131.9 million bushels.

Total holdings of fresh-market and processing apples in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage on Nov. 1 were 108.5 million bushels, an 8 percent decrease from 2004 but up 11 percent from the November 2003 holdings of 97.3 million bushels. Fresh CA holdings as of Nov. 1 were 77.1 million bushels, down 7 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2004, but 13 percent more than the 2003 holdings on that date. Total processing apple holdings as of Nov. 1 were 47.1 million bushels, down 16 percent from 2004 but 4 percent more than November 2003 holdings on that date.

Regional Fresh Holdings

On a regional basis, fresh holdings in the Northeast were 9.5 million bushels, a decrease of 14 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2004, and 6 percent less than the five-year average for that date. Southeast Nov. 1 fresh holdings were 1.6 million bushels, down 2 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2004, and 8 percent more than the five-year average for that date. In the Midwest, Nov. 1 fresh holdings were 6.3 million bushels, up 4 percent compared to holdings on Nov. 1, 2004, and up 1 percent as compared to the five-year average. Fresh-market apples in storage on Nov. 1 were 23 percent lower in the Southwest than on that date in 2004 and 39 percent lower than the five-year average. Northwest Nov. 1, 2005, fresh holdings of 82.1 million bushels were 7 percent lower than on Nov. 1, 2004, but 25 percent higher than 2003 holdings when the Washington crop was unusually light.

Fresh Holdings by Variety

On a variety basis, Nov. 1 fresh Red Delicious holdings were nearly 33.6 million bushels, an 8 percent decrease compared to Nov. 1, 2004, but 12 percent higher than the 2003 holdings on that date. Fresh Golden Delicious holdings of 14.7 million bushels were down 2 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2004, but 30 percent higher compared to Nov. 1, 2003. Fresh Granny Smith holdings of 12.7 million bushels increased 3 percent compared to holdings on that date last year and were up 29 percent compared to 2003 holdings. Fresh McIntosh holdings of 2.4 million bushels on Nov. 1 were down 26 percent from the previous year and down 30 percent from 2003 holdings. Fresh Fuji holdings of 10.6 million bushels on Nov. 1 were down 14 percent from the previous year but increased 11 percent compared to November 2003. Fresh Gala holdings of 12 million bushels were down 4 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2004, and increased 40 percent as compared to Nov. 1, 2003, holdings. Fresh Empire holdings of 2.1 million bushels on Nov. 1 decreased 13 percent compared to last year’s holdings and were 21 percent less than the 2003 holdings for Nov. 1.