The summer heat took a 5.3 percent bite out of Washington’s anticipated fresh market apple crop.
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association announced it lowered its 2021 estimated crop volume from 124.9 million 40-pound box equivalents, measured in early August, to 118.3 million, according to a news release from the Yakima-based organization on Nov. 09.
Record-setting heat waves early in the summer are to blame for volumes lower than expected for Honeycrisp, Gala and Red Delicious, said the group, which made the estimate through surveys of member producers who were asked what had been picked as of Oct. 31 and how much likely would come off trees in November.
—by Ross Courtney
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