Michigan apple growers are predicting a very nice crop this upcoming harvest season. The bloom has just finished and assessments are being made right now. At this time, the news is good. Spring delivered excellent weather, with no issues or late freezes, providing a bright outlook for the season.
"It's looking like a good crop," said Pat Chase of Jack Brown Produce in Sparta. "We're a little bit past the bloom now and we are very optimistic about the upcoming season. We had no issues, no spring freezes and at this stage expecting a good quality crop. During the bloom, there was sufficient heat to promote cell division and promote bud growth. It's now coming into the evaluation period, where growers assess their crop and determine any actions to take, including what needs thinning. Generally, harvest will start around the third week of August and continue through to the end of October."
Not much stock remaining
In Michigan, the majority of growers have cleaned up their inventory, with a few shippers still going. Out of the main varieties, Gala apples have the highest volume. Chase noted that the market has remained stable throughout the year with a slight correction in recent months.
"The 2017 crop is winding down now, but there are still a few shippers with inventory remaining," Chase observed. "Gala is the primary variety left with the most volume, as well as a few Fujis. It's been a stable market throughout the season. There have been some adjustments, but nothing too extreme."
Image: Jack Brown Produce
Looking to catch New York as the number two producer
Washington is by far the largest producer of apples in the United States, followed by New York and Michigan. Both of these states do have significant volume, but Michigan numbers were down significantly last year. However, growers are looking to bounce back this upcoming season. A lot of production is slated to come online and producers are confident that volume will approach parity with New York's production.
"We compete with Washington, and being the largest producer, they do have a sway in the market," Chase mentioned. "Michigan is the third largest producer in the country, but this year we are looking to compete closely with New York for the number two spot. We have a considerable amount of new production coming online, with a particular focus on Honeycrisp, Fuji and Gala, which are proving to be popular varieties. Growers are continually updating their orchards, taking out some of the varieties that are less in demand and replacing them with what consumers are looking for."
For more information:
Pat Chase
Jack Brown Produce
Tel: +1 (616) 887-9568