Aug 21, 2015

U.S. apple estimate: 235 million bushels, 14 percent under 2014 final crop

The U.S. Apple Association has announced its estimate of the size of the 2015 U.S. apple crop: 235 million bushels.

The estimate was given during USApple’s annual Apple Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference, held Aug. 20-21 in Chicago.

The 2015 estimate represents a 14 percent decrease over 2014’s final crop of 272 million bushels, and a 1 percent decrease over the five-year average (236 million bushels).

Here’s a regional breakdown:

In the Eastern states, the 2015 estimate is 54 million bushels, down 1 percent from the 2014 crop and 3 percent below the five-year average.

The Midwest estimate is 29 million bushels, down 1 percent from 2014 and 20 percent above the five-year average.

In the Western states, the 2015 estimate is 153 million bushels, down 18 percent from 2014 and 3 percent below the five-year average.

– Gary Pullano