The Yakima Valley apple crop will be harvested later and is expected to fall short of recent years’ fresh harvests, local growers and statewide agriculture officials say. Besides causing pollination problems, the cold spring weather delayed the growth and harvests for nearly all Yakima Valley fruit crops.
Gabe Tyrrell, field representative for Cowiche Growers, noted the above-normal temperatures throughout September and much of October prevented varieties such as Cosmic Crisp and Red Delicious from attaining a red color that some customers prefer.
“(Harvest delays) are pretty much all weather-related,” Tyrrell said. “A cool spring stretched out the growing days fruit needs to develop. And in the fall, we need cool nights to help with coloring the apples. It’s been good weather for picking, but not good for fruit development.”
Harvest might be lower than August estimate
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association released its 2022 fresh apple crop forecast in mid-August, predicting 108.7 million standard 40-pound boxes will be harvested statewide for the fresh apple market, an 11.1% decrease from 2021’s crop of 122.3 million boxes.
Jon DeVaney, the organization’s president, said Monday reports on early-harvested varieties such as Golden Delicious, Gala and Honeycrisp indicate the harvest may fall short of the August prediction.
Cosmic Crisps still popular
Among the 65 to 75 small orchards involved with the Cowiche Growers co-op, the Cosmic Crisp harvest was going well, Tyrrell said. “The shining star seems to be the Cosmic Crisps. All other varieties have picked under our estimates, but the Cosmics are a bright spot.”
Source: spokesman.com