A core problem: Apple crop may be smaller this year

FRESNO
March 2, 2006 7:00am

There was a slight decrease in the state's apple production last year and officials of the California Apple Commission predict another decline in the coming season.

The commission says about a thousand acres of apple trees have been removed this winter, largely on land to be developed for housing.

“Perhaps the industry is leveling out. I do anticipate that there will be a slight decrease of apple boxes next year due to changes occurring in the industry such as grafting to new varieties and selling land for development,” says Alex Ott, executive director of the Fresno-based commission in written comments.

California apple farmers sold almost 152 million pounds of fruit in the year just concluded, equating to about 3.45 million boxes. The box count only counts boxes for fresh commercial consumption and does not take into account the processed apples.

The total was down about 168,000 boxes from the year before.

“Overall, the market was very kind to the California apple industry this year,” Mr. Ott says. “Growers and packers worked with good prices and good quality.”

There were several factors contributing to the slight decline, including the 30-days of 100-degree weather during the summer, the commission says.

California is the second largest exporter of fresh apples and the fourth largest producer of apples within the U.S. California’s main apple varieties are galas, granny smith, Fuji and pink lady varieties.