Aug 13, 2021

USDA apple production forecast for the US is up 3% from 2020

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, released a crop report on Aug. 12 that reflected projected increases in the U.S. apple crop

The USDA  estimate of the season puts the U.S. apple crop at 10.5 billion pounds, up 3% from last year.

Despite record high temperatures in the Northwest, production in Washington is expected to be up 7% from last year, the USDA said. In Oregon, production is expected to be up 9% from the previous year.

In Michigan, the USDA said crop development was early throughout the spring, leaving buds vulnerable to frost damage in April. In addition, the crop report said pollination in Michigan was hampered by cold weather in early May.

At 760 million pounds, production in Michigan is expected to be down 18% from last year, the USDA said. New York’s apple production was forecast at 1.35 billion pounds, off 2% from 2020.

U.S. Apple Production

(million pounds)

2020     2021

California           271       185

Michigan            927       760

New York        1,385    1,350

Oregon              175       190

Pennsylvania     417       460

Virginia              163       180

Washington    6,915    7,400

U.S.              10,253   10,525

Source: USDA

Other fruit crop forecasts:

Cranberries: United States 2021 total cranberry production is forecast at 7.90 million barrels, up 1 percent from 2020. Wisconsin production is forecast at 4.70 million barrels, up 1 percent from last year. Production in Massachusetts, forecast at 2.10 million barrels, is up 2 percent from last year.

Grapes: United States grape production for 2021 is forecast at 6.47 million tons, up 9 percent from last year. California’s wine type grape production is forecast at 3.60 million tons, up 5 percent from last season, and represents 59 percent of California’s total grape crop. California’s raisin type grape production is forecast at 1.30 million tons, up 19 percent from last year, and represents 21 percent of California’s total grape crop. California’s table type grape production is forecast at 1.20 million tons, up 8 percent from last year and represents the remaining 20 percent of California’s total grape crop. Grape vineyards were hit by drought conditions throughout California. High summer temperatures, combined with little to no available water, stressed grapevines.

Peaches: The 2021 United States peach crop is forecast at 696,500 tons, is up 13 percent from 2020. In California, the largest growing State, production is forecast at 510,000 tons, is up 6 percent from the previous forecast and up 9 percent from 2020. California’s Freestone production is forecast at 270,000 tons, is up 13 percent from the previous forecast and up 23 percent from 2020. California’s Clingstone production forecast at 240,000 tons, is unchanged from the previous forecast but down 3 percent from 2020. South Carolina production is forecast at 84,000 tons, is up 10 percent from the previous season. A freeze in April impacted the northern and northwestern regions of the state resulting in crop loss. As of Aug. 1, the harvest is 82 percent complete. Harvest should be completed by late August or early September. In Georgia peach production is forecast at 36,000 tons, is up 8 percent from the previous season. An April freeze in the upper middle to north Georgia resulted in total crop loss for many operations. In other regions, moderate temperatures in June through mid-July resulted in a large late season crop. As of Aug. 1, the harvest is 91 percent complete.

Pears: United States pear production for 2021 is forecast at 670,000 tons, down slightly from last year. In California, the pear crop has been heavily affected by drought. In Oregon, growers have reported some signs of stink bug damage and some trees have been impacted from a February freeze. Growers in Washington have reported some early harvest of Bartlett pears. However, most growers are waiting for the pears to size up. Hot, dry conditions persist throughout the pear-growing region.