Apple harvest in the northwest United States is entering its final month, with growers reporting good crop volumes but noting some weather-related challenges. Recent heat waves in Washington have trimmed earlier yield estimates, according to Jon DeVaney, President of the Washington State Apple Growers.
"It'll be a larger crop, on the large end of what we've had, but not a record, is what we're expecting," DeVaney said. "That's a decent place to be, especially from a consumer perspective. You're going to have a lot of fantastic Washington apples and pears available."
DeVaney cautioned that large crops do not always translate into stronger returns. "The growers, of course, are concerned that they're still seeing a lot of rapid cost inflation," he said. "And when you have a bigger crop, the tendency is not to have the prices be as strong. And so there is some concern that we're going to have growers be under continued financial pressure again this year after several bad years in succession."
Despite the financial pressure, the market availability of domestic and imported apples remains high. Consumers are expected to find a wide range of varieties through the marketing season.
In France, apple growers report a 4% decrease in table apple production compared to last year. Total output is estimated at more than 1.5 million tons, which remains above the five-year average. Regional differences are evident, with some growing areas recording sharper declines due to high temperatures and pest incidence.
French market reports indicate that early-season prices are lower than in 2024, as reduced demand in September coincided with ample supply. The overall outlook suggests that while production remains stable, profitability may be affected by weaker early-season pricing and local growing conditions.
Source: RFD TV
