Apple Supply Dwindling

With last years record apple crop it would be very important to get it all sold before we begin harvesting apples again this fall. Mark Seetin with U.S. Apple has been following the 2014 sell off.

SEETIN: Movement has been very good. The problem the industry had was the port slowdown because that came right at a time when the crop was being heavily marketed but the industry adapted to the extent that they could and since the work slowdown has gone back to normal things have picked up quite a bit as well.

Many export opportunities were completely lost over the port issue.

SEETIN: In terms of overall exports, the last official data I saw from USDA showed exports up about 14% from the 2013 crop which is a very good sign. Most of those exports, the vast majority are coming out of Washington State. In general I think that around 30% of the crop is exported and this year compared to last year looks pretty good.

The May 1st inventory numbers won't be available for about 10 more days but Seetin is very optimistic about the crop movement. With four to five months left before new apples begin coming off trees the 2014 crop looks good.

SEETIN: it's probably 35 to 37% of the crop. You have to position that against having the record crop of - a huge crop in Washington State - and having that to work away at. That's a manageable number. It's not like you've got a mountain of apples but movement has picked up.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.