2016 Apple Forecast Revised to 137.2 Million Boxes

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association has revised their forecast for the 2016-17 season and are adding 3.4 percent more apples to their totals.

WSTFA Communications Manager Tim Kovis said they now expect 137.2 million 40-pound boxes of apples in this year’s harvest.

“We had such excellent growing conditions this year. We didn’t have the hot spikes that we saw in previous years. The weather stayed relatively stable and gave us those growing conditions that apples really like to mature in.”

The record crop for apples is 142 million boxes two years ago.

Kovis said this particular estimate only focuses on fresh apples that are going to the stores where he doesn’t think the large supply will hurt growers.

“So far the price has stayed stable and the market has responded to consumers buying these great apples so right now we’re seeing stable prices.”

Kovis said just three percent of the apples grown in Washington are consumed in the state and that there are no immediate concerns about getting apples to other markets even with overseas shipping instability.

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