Apple supplies out of Michigan will wrap up early this season.
“The Michigan crop was smaller this year and so it will end earlier than normal. We will finish at the end of May likely so about four to six weeks early. Some shippers finishing up earlier than that in the state,” says Brian Coates of Applewood Fresh in Sparta, MI, noting that Applewood ships mostly throughout the Midwest down to Texas.
Michigan's apple crop was smaller this year so Applewood and other state growers will finish about four to six weeks early.
Coates says storage supplies are down compared to a year ago on most varieties with the exception of Fuji apples. “Michigan Honeycrisp are done--there might be one shipper still going for two weeks. Jonagold and McIntosh are done in Michigan,” he says. “Red Delicious is almost done in Michigan and Fuji and EverCrisp will go through the end of May.”
He also adds that the EverCrisp, one of its newer emerging varieties, is a late-season apple that is one of the last varieties Michigan will ship.
Imports arriving soon
In terms of competing product, apples are still shipping from the East and West Coast and Coates says imports will arrive in approximately two weeks, including imported SweeTango apples.
Imported SweeTango apples will arrive in approximately two weeks.
As for demand, movement is a bit slow currently. “It’s likely to continue that way as we move into Spring Break which can be a slow time at retail. That along with the fact that spring fruits are something customers are looking for rather than apples and citrus,” says Coates. This period to summer is a slower time period for apple sales.
That said, the market is strengthening as supplies wind down and the Gala market is the strongest.
Meanwhile, not surprisingly, COVID-19 continues to affect the apple industry. “It’s still impacting across the business at retail and foodservice. Many buyers are hard to get a hold of because they’re still working remotely,” says Coates.
For more information:
Antonia Mascari
Applewood Fresh Growers LLC
Tel: +1 (616) 239-2869
amascari@applewoodfresh.com
www.applewoodfresh.com