New York had a Hot Growing Summer, but she'll be alright.
The state's apple orchards soaked up some needed rain by mid-August, and with the help of irrigation systems, the growing season did well for a fall harvest of apples sizing well in many varieties.
New York is the largest apple producer on the East Coast and second-ranked nationwide after Washington.
“The state of New York has had a very hot summer with little rain — not been beneficial for farmers,” said Marcus Albinder, operations manager and marketing lead for Hudson River Fruit Distributors, based in Milton. “Thankfully, our farms are well equipped with drip irrigation lines on each row to ensure that each tree receives enough water for our apples to best grow.”
He's a fourth-generation family member to work in the family company.
On the plus side, sizzling-hot summers make for deliciously sweet fall apples, Albinder said.
Farther north, Brett Baker, president of Lyndonville, N.Y.-based United Apple Sales and H.H. Dobbins, was pretty pleased with the growing season.
“While we are dry right now, we have been very happy with the weather and conditions Mother Nature has provided,” Baker said. “There have been mostly mild temperatures and significant rain through late June to keep the trees healthy and growing excellent-quality fruit.”
The New York Apple Association represents commercial apple growers in the state, where there are about 600 apple orchards on more than 50,000 acres.
Fresh production will be on par with the state's three-year average and will be somewhere between 31 to 32 million bushels, said Cynthia Haskins, association president and CEO. This time last year, Haskins predicted 29 to 30 million bushels, so things aren't going too badly.
Baker said, as long as the weather keeps cooperating as it has through mid-August, he expects his crop will have a larger fruit size and possibly a boost near 10% in total bushels.
What's available
Most Eastern growers said their apples should be available for retailers and foodservice operators at about the same time as last year.
By the third week of August, early varieties such as ginger gold, Paula Red and Premier Honeycrisp should be ready from New York suppliers. Following closely after these, some apple shippers will have Jersey Mac and Zestar! varieties ready.
Popular varieties such as gala, empire, fuji, macoun, mcintosh, Honeycrisp, SnapDragon and SweeTango will be ready for distribution and promotion as the new-crop season progresses.
Some shippers began shipping as early as August 13, Haskins said.
The first SnapDragon apples will be harvested in the Hudson Valley by mid-September, said Jessica Wells, executive director of Crunch Time Apple Growers. The company represents 150 New York state growers and owners licensed by Cornell University to grow and market SnapDragon and RubyFrost apples. Crunch Time has 11 sales partners in New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Central and Western New York SnapDragon harvest begins seven to 10 days later than Hudson Valley's, and the Champlain Valley is another seven to 10 days after that.
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Dey
RubyFrost apples ripen a little later, in early- to mid-October, with harvest finishing by the end of October statewide.
United Apple Sales and H.H. Dobbins grows, packs, stores, sells and ships apples domestically, and exports, too. The companies pack in Lyndonville, but also handle fruit from packers in Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Canada.
By the last week of August, United Apple Sales will have early Honeycrisp, early gala, Paula Red and ginger gold apples harvested and ready for shipment, said Brett Baker, president of United Apple and H.H. Dobbins. Gala, mcintosh, Honeycrisp, SnapDragon and fuji will follow in September.
Related: See how the crop was shaping up in 2021.
“We are right on target for what we consider a normal season,” Baker said.
Down south in Milton, the majority of Hudson River Fruit Distributors' varieties will be nearing full growth and will be picked soon. There are a few early season varieties such as ginger gold, Paula Reds and jonamacs that were expected to be picked, packed and shipped by around Aug. 20, Albinder told The Packer in early August.
Galas and macintosh will come shortly after.
Hess Bros. Fruit Co. is a third-generation, family-run company based in Lancaster, Pa., with growers in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.
“We expect to have similar volume to last year, with an emphasis on volume drivers like honeycrisp, gala and fuji, and high-flavor apples such as SnapDragon, Evercrisp and WildTwist,” said Ryan Hess, vice president of grower services.
WildTwist, a cross between Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink, is a late-harvest apple with eating quality that improves in storage. The sales program runs from January to June.
And Rice Fruit Co., a fourth-generation, family-run company based in Gardners, Pa., is starting the Eastern apple season similarly, with ginger golds, galas and Honeycrisp.
“It is a nice harvest pattern to start with because each apple has its own unique eating qualities and flavor profile,” said Brenda Briggs, Rice Fruit vice president of sales and marketing. “We are able to start with a strong mix of varieties, which is excellent for programs beginning with Eastern apples.”