USA: After surpluses of apples, industry seeks new strategies to sell the fruit

The apple industry in the United States faces an unexpected challenge this year: an excess supply of fruit. Despite an abundant harvest, characterized by its great volume and quality, apple producers are finding it increasingly difficult to find buyers for their surpluses. Chris Gerlach, director of sector analysis for the US Apple Association, told RedTv that, although previous years have seen higher volumes of apples, this year's exceptional harvest resulted in unprecedented storage levels. “The surplus of apples poses a significant challenge to growers, who are now faced with the task of moving the excess fruit. Therefore, the main challenge is to find ways to get rid of the surplus of apples.” Gerlach said export markets are limited and coupled with uncertain domestic demand, producers are left with few options. “It may be necessary to lower prices to stimulate demand, but it is not yet known whether this strategy will be effective,” he added. Despite the ...