09/20/05 Apple harvest by variety, Pt.1

In some ways, it was no surprise when 2005 Washington State apple crop estimates were lowered from original projections. The drop from around 95 million boxes to just under ninety million was attributed to a light bloom for many varieties coupled with hot temperatures last month during peak vigor time for fruit&the period of time the fruit really gains its size. An example of that is in the recently harvested Gala crops. That variety is down between five and ten per cent over last year's harvest. But Nick Stephens of Double Diamond Fruit and Columbia I.P.M. says while quantity is down, quality is up, and that combination should be profitable for many Gala growers. STEPHENS: Gala harvest went so smoothly and for whatever reason, this year just didn't seem to a year where we had a lot splitting in the Gala's at the stem end of the apple. So growers were able to get their crops off the tree in a very orderly fashion. And since we do have a short crop, we're looking for an orderly marketing of this crop because it's going to be in such good condition. Golden Delicious harvest in the fruit growing region is already underway or just beginning. And Stephens says the hot weather actually has been a benefit to Goldens, which are expected to be at a quantity level similar to last year. In our next program, the forecast on Red Delicious.