The U.S. Apple Association's recent report reveals a notable decrease in both fresh and processing apple inventories compared to the previous year and the five-year average for the period ending December 1. The total storage capacity stood at 134.2 million bushels, marking a 7.1% decrease from the previous year, with fresh apples making up 93.4 million bushels, a 6.8% drop, and processing apples at 40.8 million bushels, a 7.7% decrease.
Washington state experienced a significant reduction in apple storage, holding 101.9 million bushels compared to 114 million the previous year. In contrast, Michigan's apple holdings saw an increase, reaching 12.2 million pounds from 7.5 million the year before. Other states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia witnessed declines in storage, while Oregon and New Hampshire reported increases. California's storage capacities also decreased, falling short of the five-year average. The report, covering over 95% of the national storage capacity, highlights these changes in the apple industry as of mid-December.