US(NY): Good volumes, anticipating sweet apple crop

As the apple harvest in New York ramps up, growers are anticipating volumes in line with what the state normally produces. Some growers had to contend with less water this season, and, as a result, fruit sizes could skew smaller this year, however the very hot weather has contributed to high sugar levels. 

“A lot of the growing is taking place in the Hudson Valley and Western New York,” said Alisha Albinder of Hudson River Fruit Distributors. “Supplies are good, about normal, but overall sizes could be a little smaller due to a lack of water, especially in growing areas without irrigation.” New York has produced about 30 million bushels of apples every year for the last several years, and while some estimates predict volume could dip below that mark this season, it's expected this year's harvest will be close to the five-year average.

“We start to harvest in late-August and go through early-November, and there's always a lot of excitement for the new season,” said Albinder. “There's a lot of demand this time of year.” So far, the market for apples from New York has been steady with fairly good demand. On September 1, prices for a carton of Ginger Gold 80s from New York were between $20.00 and $26.00, and prices for a carton of Paula Red 80s were also between $22.00 and $26.00.

“The varieties available will be rolling in and out,” said Albinder, “but right now we have Jonamacs, McIntoshes, Zestars, Paula Reds, Ginger Golds and we are currently picking Galas.” She added that Hudson River is introducing two new packaging options this season, both intended to fill growing niches in the market. The Red Chief Juice Blends looks to capitalize on the different ways that consumers incorporate apples into their diet. The four-pound juicer bag emphasizes juicing, blending, baking and cooking, and it has four recipes on the back. The bag will be available in four varieties: Honeycrisp, Gala, Empire and Red Delicious.

“We're also rolling out our Lil' Chief apples,” said Albinder. “Those are small, kid-friendly three-pound bags of small-sized apples that are perfect for children. We're targeting kids aged five through 13 with these to encourage healthy eating habits at a young age.”