Apple Exports Get Big Boost from Down Year in Europe

Apple harvest is underway and generally getting positive reviews throughout the industry, and there’s more good news as well.

Todd Fryhover with the Washington Apple Commission said there might be less competition in the international marketplace.

“Europe is going to be down more than 20 percent, so that’s a big plus for us. The Europeans are talking about just being able to take care of internal demand, so they’ll pull back from exports.”

That could open up markets in Central America and maybe ease some pressure in Southeast Asia markets.

When it comes to trade deals, Fryhover said the NAFTA agreement has been great for apple growers and that he couldn’t think of any way he would want to change it.

“You can look at the two countries combined, somewhere between 15 and 20 million fresh bushels annually. So it’s very impactful.”

Fryhover did note that the Korea-U.S. trade agreement hasn’t benefitted apple growers yet as South Korea has a robust apple market and the move to import American varieties is meeting resistance.

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