Nov 12, 2024

U.S. Apple holdings declining

Apple holdings are on their way down.

Fresh and processing apple inventories are reported lower in early November this year than in the previous year, according to a Nov. 11 report from the U.S. Apple Association (USApple).

According to the USAppleTracker report, the total number of apples in storage on June 1 was 177 million bushels, 7% less than last November’s 191 million bushels and 6% higher than the 5-year average for that date, according to USApple.

Fresh apple holdings in November totaled 130 million bushels, 7% less than the inventories reported for last November. Processing holdings totaled 46 million bushels, 9% less than last year on Nov. 1.

The seven top apple producing states, Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Virginia and Oregon, reported decreasing storage volume.

All other states, except for Massachusetts and Ohio, reported storage declines.

Washington’s total storage declined from 152 million bushels in November 2023 to 141 million bushels on Nov. 1. This compares to the 132 million bushel five-year average for the time period.

New York was 13.7 million bushels for the period, compared to 14.9 million bushels the previous year and lower than the 12 million bushel five-year average.

Michigan’s holdings were 11.2 million bushels in total storage, down from 12.3 million bushels the previous year and smaller than the 10.5 million bushel five-year average.

Pennsylvania’s storage was 4.6 million bushels compared to the previous year’s 5.e million bushels and similar to the 5.4 million bushel five-year average.

California was 409,716 bushels, down from 488,275 and lower than the 451,439 bushel five year average.

Virginia storage was 1.7 million bushels, down from 1.8 million bushels the previous year and lower than the 1.9 million bushel five-year average.

Oregon’s inventories were 866,504 bushels, lower than the 942,793 bushels during the previous period. That compares to the state’s 1.1 million bushels five-year average.

Ohio’s storage levels jumped from 35,501 bushels to 166,090 bushels, higher than the 90,458 five-year average. In Massachusetts, storage increased from 64,663 bushels in 2023 to 77,326 the present year, lower than the 82,790 five-year average.

The leading varieties in storage, in order by volume, were Gala, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, Cosmic Crisp, Pink Lady/Cripps Pink, Golden Delicious, Envy, Ambrosia, Rome, McIntosh, Idared, Empire and York.

Read more detail in the report’s tables here.

The report captures more than 95% of the national storage capacity, according to USApple.