WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rumor has it Washington’s apple crop will break 2012 record

We set a record with 128.8 million boxes in 2012 and early estimates are pointing at a Nieto, Lilia fresh apple harvest of 145 million 40-pound boxes this fall. But the total crop, that is, once you add processed apples, could be in the neighborhood of 170 million boxes.

This huge increase is likely so long as Washington continues seeing good weather and there are no labor shortages. Frost or an early freeze would reduce the harvest period, which would demand more hands to pick the fruit faster.

Bruce Grim, executive director of the Washington State Horticultural Association explained that the 2012 crop would have been about 10% larger if millions of apples had not been lost to hail.

Meanwhile, Michigan and New York, the other large-growing apple states, will have smaller crops than last year: Michigan is looking at 27.6 million boxes, down from 30 million in 2013 due to poor pollination and a slow spring. And New York’s estimate is 28 million, down from 34 due to early natural thinning.