There were fewer apples in storage at the start of 2006 than there were at the same time in 2005, and the apple industry is enjoying continued strong demand for their fruit, according to the most recent survey of apple storage facilities conducted by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple). Total apple holdings in the U.S. as of January 1, 2006, decreased seven percent from the previous year, while apple movement was reported running about three percent above the five-year average for the period.

“The combination of a smaller apple supply and continued strong demand bodes well for the industry,” said USApple Vice President James R. Cranney, Jr. Total U.S. holdings of fresh and processing apples on Jan. 1, 2006, were 115.2 million bushels. The Jan. 1, 2006, holdings were 1 percent above the five-year average of 114.2 million bushels for holdings on that date.

Total fresh-market apple holdings on Jan. 1, 2006, were reported at 76.1 million bushels, a decrease of 7 percent from January 2005 holdings of 81.5 million bushels, but 4 percent higher than the five-year average for holdings on that date of 73.4 million bushels.Total processing apple holdings as of Jan. 1, 2006, were 39.1 million bushels, down 8 percent from 2005, and 4 percent less than the five-year average for that date.

Total holdings of fresh-market and processing apples in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage on Jan. 1, 2006, were 98.1 million bushels, a 6 percent decrease from 2005, but up 3 percent from the five-year average. Fresh CA holdings as of Jan. 1, 2006, were 69.5 million bushels, a 5 percent decrease from holdings on Jan. 1, 2005, but 6 percent more than the five-year average for holdings on that date.

Apple Movement Strong

National movement of fresh-market apples is slower than the exceptional rates seen during the previous crop, but still stronger than the five year average. Fresh market movement totaled 12.4 million bushels during December 2005, an 8 percent decrease over the December 2004 total of 13.6 million bushels, but 3 percent greater than the five-year average of 12.1 million bushels. Regular storage accounted for 6.6 million bushels of December 2005 movement; a decrease of 3 percent from last year’s number, while 5.9 million bushels of movement were from CA storage, a decrease of 13 percent over December 2004.

On a regional basis, December 2005 movement of fresh-market apples in the Northeast was 2 percent less than December 2004, but 4 percent more than the five-year average movement. Movement in the Southeast was 30 percent more than in 2004, and 40 percent more than the five-year average.

Movement in the Midwest was 23 percent more than in December 2004, and 21 percent more than the five-year average for December. In the Southwest, movement was 13 percent more than December 2004, and 41 percent less than the five-year average. In the Northwest, movement was 14 percent less than in December 2004, but up 1 percent from five-year average.

Regional Fresh Holdings

On a regional basis, fresh holdings in the Northeast were 13 percent lower than holdings on Jan. 1, 2005, and 5 percent lower than the five-year average for that date. Southeast Jan. 1, 2006, fresh holdings were 10 percent less than on Jan. 1, 2005, but 5 percent more than the five-year average for that date.

In the Midwest, Jan. 1, 2006, fresh holdings were down 1 percent as compared to holdings on Jan. 1, 2005, and down 9 percent compared to the five-year average. Fresh-market apples in storage on Jan. 1, 2006, were 10 percent lower in the Southwest than on that date in 2005, and 23 percent lower than the five-year average.

Northwest Jan. 1, 2006, fresh holdings were 6 percent lower than Jan. 1, 2005, holdings, but 6 percent more than the five-year average for that date.

Fresh Holdings by Variety

On a varietal basis, Jan. 1, 2006, fresh Red Delicious holdings were 25.9 million bushels, a 9 percent decrease compared to Jan. 1, 2005, and 12 percent lower than the five-year average for holdings on that date. Fresh Golden Delicious holdings of 11.9 million bushels were up 2 percent from holdings on Jan. 1, 2005, and increased 9 percent as compared to the five-year average for that date.

Fresh Granny Smith holdings of 9.7 million bushels increased 3 percent as compared to holdings on that date last year, and were up 27 percent as compared to the five-year average for Jan. 1.Fresh Fuji holdings of 8.1 million bushels on Jan. 1, 2006, were down 14 percent from the previous year, but increased 2 percent as compared to the five-year average.

Fresh Gala holdings of 8.1 million bushels were down 6 percent from holdings on Jan. 1, 2005, but increased 38 percent as compared to the five-year average for that date. Fresh McIntosh holdings of 1.5 million bushels on Jan. 1, 2006, were down 33 percent from the previous year, and down 24 percent from the five-year average.

Fresh Empire holdings of 1.5 million bushels on Jan. 1, 2006, a decrease of 17 percent as compared to last year’s holdings on that date, and were 20 percent lower than the five-year average for Jan. 1.

For more information, contact: Shannon Schaffer, sschaffer@usapple.org