The apple supply from Pennsylvania could have challenges through the summer. "We're going to gap on some varieties that we don't normally gap on like Galas and Reds," says Brandon Ruppert of Cohen Produce Marketing. "The only apples that will be left through the new harvest are Fuji and EverCrisp. All the other varieties such as Golds, Honeycrisp, and more are either done or have been for a little while already. These are gaps that we don't normally see."
This follows a smaller apple crop for Pennsylvania for 2024-2025. Meanwhile, while the general supply of apples from Washington is still good, this year saw lower numbers of Honeycrisp apples, unlike the year before when it had an abundance of the popular variety. However, the rest of the varieties, including Galas and Reds, Washington will have until the new harvest.
As for apple demand, it has been good. "This time of year is when most retailers shift their produce shelves and put apples in the back and stone fruits and berries up front. So there's nothing unusual about seeing a decline in apple consumption at this time of year," says Ruppert. Overall though domestic demand has been strong for apples this year while exports numbers have been lower. "Retailers have worked actively to promote apples and keep pricing affordable."
© Cohen Produce Marketing
Promotions to keep crop moving
So where is all of this leaving pricing? It seems to be variety-dependent. While Honeycrisp pricing is very strong, pricing on other varieties such as Cosmic Crisp, Red Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Evercrisp, and more is steady. "I imagine looking ahead, pricing will stay where it is. We might see some promotions to keep apple demand strong through the summer because there is still plenty of fruit to move from Washington," says Ruppert.
The incentive of course is to move product ahead of the new fall harvest and minimize carry-in as much as possible. As for that upcoming fall crop, the East Coast had some low temperatures for a short period in April which may have affected varieties such as Red Delicious. "Some growers' knee-jerk reaction was that it was going to be bad for the season but since then, there's optimism again," says Ruppert, adding that an average or above-average season in terms of crop size is expected. "A few growers were thinning during blossom and you wouldn't thin during a season where you think you may have lost fruit from a freeze."
For more information:
Brandon Ruppert
Cohen Produce Marketing
Tel: +1 (717) 975-9111
[email protected]
http://www.cohenproduce.com/
