U.S. Apple Holdings 2 Percent Below 2005

U.S. fresh-market apple holdings of 98.8 million bushels on Nov. 1 were 2 percent less than holdings on that date in 2005, according to the U.S. Apple Association’s first survey of apple storage facilities for the 2006 crop year. This also represents a 9 percent decline from 2004’s larger-than-average crop.

Total U.S. holdings of fresh and processing apples on Nov. 1, were 145.8 million bushels, a 4 percent decrease from holdings of 152 million bushels on Nov. 1, 2005. The Nov. 1, 2006, holdings were 11 percent under the November 2004 holdings of 164.2 million bushels on that date.

Total holdings of fresh-market and processing apples in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage on Nov. 1, 2006, were 105.1 million bushels, a 6 percent decrease from November 2005 and down 11 percent from November 2004.

Fresh CA holdings as of Nov. 1, 2006, were 73.7 million bushels, down 7 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2005, and 11 percent less than the 2004 holdings on that date.

Total processing apple holdings as of Nov. 1, 2006, were 47 million bushels, down 8 percent from 2005 and 16 percent less than November 2004 holdings on that date.

Regional Fresh Holdings

On a regional basis, fresh holdings in the Northeast were 10.2 million bushels, an increase of 4 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2005, and 2 percent more than the five-year average for that date. Southeast Nov. 1, 2006, fresh holdings were 2 million bushels, up 20 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2005, and 30 percent more than the five-year average for that date.

In the Midwest, Nov. 1, 2006, fresh holdings were 6.6 million bushels, up 6 percent compared to holdings on Nov. 1, 2005, and up 8 percent compared to the five-year average. Fresh-market apples in storage on Nov. 1, 2006, were 9 percent higher in the Southwest than on that date in 2005 but 20 percent lower than the five-year average.

Northwest Nov. 1, 2006, fresh holdings of 79.1 million bushels were 4 percent lower than on Nov. 1, 2005, and were 10 percent lower than 2004 holdings on that date when the Washington crop was abundant. A five-year average for the Northwest is not available.

Fresh Holdings by Variety

On a varietal basis, Nov. 1, 2006, fresh Red Delicious holdings were nearly 36.2 million bushels, an 8 percent increase compared to Nov. 1, 2005, but 1 percent lower than the 2004 holdings on that date.

Fresh Golden Delicious holdings of 10.8 million bushels were down 26 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2005, and 28 percent lower compared to Nov. 1, 2004. Fresh Granny Smith holdings of 12.6 million bushels were the same as holdings on that date last year, but were up 3 percent compared to 2004 holdings. Fresh Fuji holdings of 9.8 million bushels on Nov. 1, 2006, were down 9 percent from the previous year, and decreased 21 percent compared to November 2004 holdings. Fresh Gala holdings of 11.1 million bushels were down 8 percent from holdings on Nov. 1, 2005, and decreased 12 percent compared to Nov. 1, 2004, holdings. Fresh Empire holdings of 2.5 million bushels on Nov. 1, 2006, increased 23 percent compared to last year’s holdings and were 4 percent more than the 2004 holdings for Nov. 1. Fresh McIntosh holdings of 2.5 million bushels on Nov. 1, 2006, were up 6 percent from the previous year but down 23 percent from the 2004 holdings on that date.