While Washington state apple shippers are wringing their hands over the crop 
and profits that could have been, apple haulers probably won’t notice a lot of difference this 2012-13 season, since even after a hail reduced crop, shipments will be right in there with the average for the past five years.
One difference however, are the possibilities truckers may face with claims, unless you make sure the buyers know what is being delivered. There could be some hail damaged apples shipped to market this year; ones that look a little roughed up on the outside, but the quality is supposed to be good on the inside.
The apples with damage from hail will have “dimples” that turn brown and have a russetted look.
Some orchards totally escaped damage from the July 20 hail storm, while others were hit with varying amounts of damage. Much of the hits were taken by the Red Delicious variety.
The five-year average for Washington state apple shipments has been 100 to 110 million cartons. Before the hail storm, shippers were looking to move as much as 120 million cartons of apples this season. Loading opportunities are still expected to be good, despite the predictions of 10 to 25 percent of the crop being lost.
Updates on the amount of damage to apples from the hail storm are expected to come out within the next week.