- Apple Crop Shaping Up
Well So Far Across the U.S.
Associate Editor
Washington
Washington was in its second stage of chemical thinning. A good crop that could be over 100 million boxes is anticipated. The fruit quality is good and juice price at $140/ton with peelers at $160/ton. In Yakima early thinners worked very well but growers are waiting to see the effect of second thinners. Crop maturity is five days ahead of normal.
"With alternate bearing it’s likely the crop will be larger. How much larger is anyone’s guess," said Steve Lutz, from the Washington Apple Commission. Lutz said Washington’s weather has been normal.
Michigan
Southwest Michigan - Frost damage from April 5 reduced crop potential. Bloom occurred the first week of May and crop maturity is seven to eight days ahead of normal. Thinning is underway. Weather in Southwest Michigan has been poor with rain and cold temperatures. Three fireblight infections were reported during bloom period. Trees appear to be heavy on top and light on the bottom.
Ridge – Thinning was taking place in May and moisture has been more than adequate. Bloom was fast and weather was favorable for fruit set. Red Delicious, Empire and Macintosh have questionable set. Large tree removal has taken place in the area and the crop is expected to be down from last year.
New York
In mid-May New York was in bloom in many areas. The crops have been set through bloom and pollinated, according to Jim Allen from the New York Apple Association. "We’ve had really good pollinating weather. Right now we’re in pretty good shape," said Allen. He advises growers to keep watching the Weather Channel as another violent year for weather with extremes has been predicted. His prediction came true after serious high winds and a hailstorm hit Ulster County in the Hudson Valley on Thursday, May 18.
A severe hail storm moved through the lower Hudson Valley on the evening of May 18, leaving varying levels of damage in its wake. In orchards at the center of the storm path, hail damage to tree fruits was so severe that some growers will abandon the crop. Orchards on the edges of the storm path sustained varying degrees of damage.
Late blooming apple varieties such as Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Rome sustained less damage than earlier varieties such as Mac and Empire.
Growers reported wet weather conditions during bloom and cold during pollination. Good crop potential is expected on most varieties although Red Delicious, Golden, Greening and Mutsu may be down from last year. Adequate moisture was reported.
Pennsylvania
"It’s too early to tell. There haven’t been any major weather disasters. The warm weather early may have an impact," said Kyle Nagurny, executive director of the Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Board. She said Pennsylvania has enjoyed good bloom and plenty of rainfall and that the drought restrictions have been lifted.
Growers reported crop maturity seven days ahead of normal and some frost damage in higher elevations. Second thinners were being applied and the crop is estimated at 65-70% of last year’s crop. Red Delicious were reported down because of poor bloom and poor set.
California
The crop is estimated to be down 5% from last year. The Fuji crop is estimated a 1.8 million boxes compared with three million boxes last year while Pink Lady is estimated at 500,000 boxes, up from last year’s 250,000 boxes. Some fireblight has shown up. The crop maturity is close to normal, although the weather has been erratic in some areas.
North Carolina
Thinners have been applied in North Carolina with excellent crop potential on all varieties. The apple crop, estimated at four million bushels, has good quality with adequate moisture. Crop maturity is one week to 10 days ahead of normal.
Virginia
"The crop looks good although we didn’t have the best pollination weather, " said Nancy Israel, executive director of the Virginia Apple Growers Association, who represents 250 apple growers in Virginia.
Full bloom occurred three weeks early with crop maturity 10 days to two weeks early. Red Delicious will be down from last year. The Golden bloom was good but poor pollination caused poor set. York crop is spotty while the Rome crop set was reported as fairly good. There has been some hail damage and the quality is questionable. Second thinners have been applied and the overall crop is estimated at 60-70% of a full crop. Similar conditions were reported in West Virginia.
Maryland
Growers have applied second cover sprays. York and Red Delicious may be down from last year while other varieties reported normal. Crop maturity reported seven days ahead of normal. The crop lacks moisture.
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