Apple Update

It's early in the apple season. Very. But there is a lot of optimism for how the 2014 crop will finish up and how the 2015 crop of apples is shaping up. USApple recently saw a bonus buy of apple come through from USDA of some 34.9 million pounds of apples and according to Washington Apple Commission's Todd Fryhover, thats a good thing.

FRYHOVER: Really Greg, any apples that are moved off the market into excellent places like schools for our children and the WIC program is fantastic.

Last week we talked with USApple's Mark Seetin about the sell off of the 2014 crop who was very optimistic. Fryhover echoes that.

FRYHOVER: The last several months have been relatively optimistic. We've seen movement in excess of three million boxes a week which is a great number. We're seeing increased export activity which is fantastic after having to have gone through the port slowdown that provided us with a tremendous amount of lost opportunities so exports are increasing, the domestic movement is looking fantastic, it's still going to be a challenge to get through the crop.

The 2015 apple crop is off to a good start with an early bloom and no significant frost damage.

FRYHOVER: It appears that we've got a good crop. We've got some varieties that traditionally just alternate bare. We expect to have a few less Fuji's, there's definitely going to be less Red Delicious, the Golden number is going to be down so I think what we are looking at is another excellent crop.

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