Supplies of the Autumn Glory apple are up significantly this season.
Harvest came early this year for the Autumn Glory.
The apple, grown in Washington State by Domex Superfresh Growers, is up 20 percent in conventional supplies and up 55 percent in organic volume. “We have the largest volume we’ve had so far as we continue to build our volume and plant more trees,” says Cat Gipe-Stewart, communications manager with Domex Superfresh.
The increase in organics is particularly of note. “We’ve had a significant amount transition to organics this year,” says Gipe-Stewart. “That opens us up to other natural-type markets as well. We’ll run organic pretty heavy through the New Year and then conventionally, at the moment we’re looking to have volume through the spring.”
While harvest of Autumn Glory, a crisp and juicy apple with flavors of caramel and cinnamon, tends to be mid-October, harvest came early this year. “This was great because the frost came early too so we missed the frost because things had shifted earlier,” says Gipe-Stewart.
Cat Gipe-Stewart, communications manager with Domex Superfresh.
Exports strong too
Meanwhile demand is strong for the apple as well. Gipe-Stewart notes that Nielsen data for the last four weeks ending October 31, 2020 reports that Autumn Glory up 1181 percent in dollars and 1188 percent in pounds. Exports are moving well as well. “It’s a big year for us to be shipping out internationally right out of the gate to countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong as well as throughout North America including Canada and Mexico,” says Gipe-Stewart. “We’re also in some very large retailers nationwide right from the beginning of the season.”
That’s a change from what apple growers saw starting last March. “In the spring when COVID-19 hit, core apple varieties did very well while proprietary struggled. We’re back on track now with fresh crop but we’re just hoping it stays that way,” says Gipe-Stewart.
Autumn Glory volume is up significantly in organic and also in conventional.
As for pricing, Gipe-Stewart notes it’s steady and comparable to last year with average retail pricing sitting at $2.10 for conventional and $3.04 for organics.
For more information:
Catherine Gipe-Stewart
Superfresh Growers
Tel: +1 (509) 966-1814
cgipe@superfreshgrowers.com
www.superfreshgrowers.com