According to trade association USApple's July survey of apple storage and movement nation-wide, fresh market supplies of were 34 per cent down on the same time last year and 24 per cent below the five-year average. The association believes the fresh apple supply levels are manageable and that stocks will be exhausted before the 2002 crop comes on stream in the autumn.

'You can feel the enthusiasm for the 2002 crop gaining momentum,' said USApple interim president Jim Cranney. 'The lighter carryover from the 2001 crop should put us in an excellent position for marketing the 2002 crop.'

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