US apple production is forecast at 223 million boxes in 2004-5, nine per cent up year-on-year but 4.5m boxes below the five-year average.
This follows favourable weather during pollination and steady rains during June and July which, combined, contributed to one of the earliest seasons on record.
There has been expansion across almost the whole range. Shannon Schaffer of the US Apple Association said the varietal picture has seen considerable change over the last five years and will continue to change with the 2004 crop. “Although Red Delicious still dominates production, accounting for a 27 per cent share overall, Golden Delicious is increasingly facing challenges for second place from Gala and Fuji,” she said.
This trend is borne out by industry figures. For example, Gala has seen output rise nearly every year since 2000 to stand at a high of 23.27m boxes in the season under review - the equivalent of 10 per cent overall. Fuji, too, has witnessed growth to 20.1m boxes or nine per cent.
Gains have also been achieved with Cameo, Honeycrisp, Ginger Gold and Pink Lady, niche varieties seen as having much potential for the future.
Conversely, Idared has come under pressure and in 2004-5 alone, output is forecast to fall five per cent to 4.7m boxes. “Jonathan has also faced decline to 4.6m boxes and Gravenstein to 126,000 boxes - the latter the lowest level since the ‘90s,” Schaffer adds.
Meanwhile, Granny Smith and McIntosh volumes have remained consistent - forecast at 19.7m boxes and 10.6m, respectively. Empire has also maintained its popularity at around at the 4.3m box mark, as has Rome with 10m boxes.
Across the range, western states are expected to account for 64 per cent of total supply (142.6m boxes) with a further 36 per cent (80.4m boxes) coming from the east and mid west and 24 per cent (53.8m boxes) from eastern districts.
On a state-by-state basis Washington is the biggest producer with output projected at 123.8m boxes, up 16 per cent on the season before, followed by New York with 25m (up six per cent) and Michigan 18m ( down by 10 per cent).
Fresh exports are forecast to rise to 31.5m boxes compared with 24.7m in 2003-4. Schaffer told the Journal: “Last season exports, which generated US$369.6m, represented 19 per cent of total fresh market production and we anticipate this increasing to 24 per cent during 2004-5.”
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