2013apples.JPG
Michigan apple growers expect their yields to approach the record yields they enjoyed in 2013.
(Jim Harger | Mlive Media Group)
LANSING, MI – Michigan’s apple growers will harvest an estimated 28.74 million bushels of apples this year, according to the official crop estimate announced Friday, Aug. 22, at the USApple Outlook meeting in Chicago.
The estimate is close to 2013's record-breaking Michigan apple crop of 30 million bushels.
"Michigan's growers, packers and shippers are ready to get their apples into the marketplace this fall, said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, in a news release. "We are hearing from consumers that they can't wait to crunch into their first Michigan apple of the season,"
The predicted crop size would be one of the largest apple crops Michigan has seen, said Smith, who attended the US Apple Outlook. Michigan is the nation's second largest producer of apples after Washington state.
"Many factors have contributed to this large crop," Smith said. "Great weather this past spring and summer, including cool nights, plenty of rain as well as a good amount of sunshine certainly helped. Of course, the hard work of our apple industry always plays an important role."
The larger crop estimate also reflects new apple-growing methods for one of the state's largest and most valuable fruit crops, Smith said.
"With high-density plantings (approximately 1,000 trees per acre) and advancements in technology, Michigan is going to continue to produce a larger quantity of apples. We are also seeing great quality and size," she said.
The USApple Outlook meeting's estimate is the only official national crop estimate this year, as the federal sequester eliminated the United States Department of Agriculture's estimate in 2013.
Earlier this summer, fruit growers and processors from around Michigan gathered in Grand Rapids their “guesstimate” conference which included other fruits such as peaches, blueberries, sweet cherries and tart cherries.
Apple growers attending the June 25 “guesstimate” conference predicted a yield of 27.7 million bushels this year, slightly above last year’s yield of 26.3 million bushels.
RELATED: Michigan fruit growers 'guesstimate' their yields after surviving a long harsh winter
Jim Harger covers business for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.