09/19/05 Apple forecast lowered

Original crop estimates had this year's Washington State apple harvest lower than the year before. But as crop consultant and field man Nick Stephens points out, the most recent estimate is lower than that. STEPHENS: The crop estimate was adjusted down due to some orchards picking light in the southern districts and we've now gone from a ninety-five million box crop of apples down to eighty-nine. Factors such a cool spring and hot August temperatures have been cited by industry analysts for the smaller crop estimate. And Stephens said that led to concerns about smaller crops for specific varieties. Take the recently harvested Gala crop for example. On average, that crop is down between five and ten per cent from last year. STEPHENS: It became apparent at bloom that at least in some of the southern districts that there were some holes in the crop, and sure enough, the old adage a short crop gets shorter seemed to play out once we got to harvest. But the plus of a smaller crop, according to Stephens, is a potentially bigger return for growers. STEPHENS: That certainly bodes well for good prices this year. Especially good news for growers who are coming off a fairly dismal year in terms of returns for the effort that they put into growing last year's crop. How Galas, Goldens, and other apple varieties appear to be turning out is the subject of future programs.