Aug 20, 2024

Michigan apple growers release official 2024-25 harvest crop size

The Michigan Apple Committee has released this year’s expected apple harvest size.

Michigan is forecast to harvest 30.5 million bushels, which equates to 1.3 billion pounds, of apples during the 2024-25 calendar year, according to the Michigan Apple Committee.

That’s slightly lower than last year, when the state’s growers harvested 31.9 million bushels of apples, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Average annual crop size is approximately 25.9 million bushels.

Michigan’s official crop estimate was announced on Aug. 16 as part of the USApple Outlook meeting in Chicago. The 2024 estimate is above average for the Michigan apple industry, according to a news release.

“It is unusual to have three large crops in a row,” Diane Smith, the committee’s executive director, said in the release. “However, as growers continue to plant high-density orchards and adopt other innovative growing practices, Michigan’s apple crop sizes will increase, and we will continue to see these larger crops.”

Warmer than normal temperatures in late winter and early spring caused buds to form early, leading to earlier bloom in May. Growers were fortunate this year to not experience significant frost and freeze events after that early bloom, meaning a plentiful crop being harvested about 10 days earlier than usual, according to the release.

“Michigan Apple growers share a common goal of producing flavorful, high-quality apples,” Smith said in the release. “They work with tree fruit researchers to implement the latest growing techniques and use new technology to monitor growing conditions. Michigan growers are committed to bringing the best quality fruit to the consumer.”

Many factors contribute to the size of an apple crop, including weather, bloom conditions and tree health. To make the estimate, growers and other industry experts report on what they are seeing in various regions of the state, then come to a consensus on the crop size estimate.

Michigan Apples are available nearly year-round from August to June. The largest and most valuable fruit crop in the state can be found at about 150 farm markets and cider mills in Michigan as well as more than 12,000 retail groceries across the U.S., according to Smith.

According to the USDA, there are more than 14.9 million apple trees in Michigan commercial production, covering 34,500 acres on 775 family-run farms.

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world.