According to an informal survey among producers across the US hail, frost and low temperatures have affected bloom and pollination in key growing areas.

Bloom in Washington is reported as moderate to heavy. There has been scattered frost damage but post-bloom conditions have not been ideal and many growers have had to consider hand-thinning their trees. Adequate snowmelt should see ample water supplies for irrigation, reports USApple. In Michigan, most growing areas had heavy bloom, but very cold temperatures in the week of May 17 brought frost damage of varying degrees to many parts of the state.

Bloom in New York was moderate, but low temperatures throughout May meant that most parts of the state experienced poor pollinating conditions.

Despite the reductions, prospects on the whole are good for the 2002 crop. The situation is further improved by rapidly dwindling stocks of the 2001 crop which at June 1 was 15 per cent down on the same time last year and 16 per cent below the five-year average.

'As we enter the homestretch of marketing this season's crop, our industry is in excellent shape with continued movement and decreasing supplies,' said USApple interim president Jim Cranney. 'In fact, last month's movement outpaced movement during May 2001, and we are looking at approaching the new crop with the lightest supply we've had in years.'

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