Fishers, N.Y. – New York apple shipments are now officially underway across the Empire State, from the lower Hudson Valley to the upper Champlain Valley – and growers are harvesting a vintage crop, New York Apple Association (NYAA) reports.
The state’s nearly 700 apple growers are now expected to pick about 32 million bushels by the time harvest concludes in November, a modern record. New York’s average production is 29.5 million bushels.
Excellent weather conditions – beginning during this year’s bloom and growing season, and continuing into harvest so far – mean that this year’s fruit will be large and juicy, with high natural sugars. Meanwhile, recent new plantings mean that consumers will find more of the New York state apple varieties that they love.
“This year’s apple harvest is on time, and is now in full swing across New York state,” said NYAA President Jim Allen. “Our consumers who have been waiting for us to get back into the market after last year’s short crop will have lots to celebrate this fall.”
Harvest of New York’s top variety McIntosh is now underway in the Eastern part of the state and will soon be harvesting statewide, Allen reported. Harvest of all other varieties, including consumer favorites including Zestar, Gala and HoneyCrisp, is underway across the state.
“We didn’t just recover from last year, we’ve roared back and more,” said Allen. Devastated by frosts that killed much of last year’s fruit in the bud, the state’s 2012 crop was 17.1 million bushels per U.S. Department of Agriculture.
To promote this year’s crop, NYAA has enlisted New York native and international soccer star Abby Wambach. In July, Wambach assumed the title of women’s world record holder for career goals scored. Television and radio commercials featuring Abby are airing now; she will also be featured in in-store signage starting later this fall.
“We want to score the soccer mom vote,” said NYAA’s Allen.
View the Wambach and “Blossom to Awesome” videos on NYAA’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/newyorkapples1.
About New York Apple Association, Inc.
A nonprofit agricultural trade association based in Fishers, N.Y., NYAA represents the state’s commercial apple growers. The grower-funded association supports profitable growing and marketing of New York apples through increasing demand for apples and apple products, representing the industry at state and federal levels, and serving as the primary information source on New York apple-related matters. For more information, visit www.nyapplecountry.com.
Source: New York Apple Association, Inc.