APPLE GROWERS
FACE PROBLEMS DESPITE GOOD CROP
YAKIMA - U.S.
apple growers produced the second-largest crop on record in 1998, yet it hardly
turned out to be a banner year, the director of the industry's national trade
organization says.
"Never before have we been confronted with so many challenges at one time," Kraig Naasz, president of the U.S. Apple Association, said Thursday.
The trade and production issues that made 1998 difficult could continue to be problems in coming years, he said after a meeting of the Washington Apple Commission in Yakima. "I look at this year as an opportunity, an opportunity for our industry to get ahead of schedule for the new millennium" by addressing troublesome issues now, he said. "One of the most critical challenges will be to invite our consumers here and around the world to eat more apples." U.S. growers produced an estimated 265 million, 42-pound boxes of fresh apples this year. Final figures won't be available until July. The record was set in 1994 at 273 million boxes. For the first time, growers in Washington this year broke the century-mark, producing 100.3 million boxes. The figures don't include apples sent for processing or apples left to rot in the orchard because prices dropped so low. The average selling price for a box of fresh apples is about $12.50 this year, compared with nearly $16 last year. For juice apples, prices dropped to $10 to $20 a ton, compared with more than $100 a ton last year. Last summer, Washington growers assessed themselves an extra 15 cents a box specifically to pay for advertising aimed at boosting domestic consumption of apples. And at the annual Washington Horticultural Association convention this week, growers talked about ways to improve the image of the Red Delicious apple which, although still the No. 1 apple, many consumers have soured on. Washington typically produces about 60 percent of the nation's fresh apples and accounts for 93 percent of all U.S. apple exports. Growers here are eager to see more markets opened to Washington apples, as they struggle with overseas trade and competition woes. The U.S. Apple Association is preparing an anti-dumping case against China and other countries, accusing them of selling unfairly priced apple juice concentrate in the United States and driving down the price. Imports of apple juice concentrate from China have increased 997 percent in the last three years, while the price for the concentrate has fallen 51 percent, the apple association said. Ultimately, the case could result in the U.S. Department of Commerce imposing duties on the foreign concentrate. Naasz called the case "a top priority" of his McLean, Va.-based association. The Asian economic crisis also has affected apple sales in some key export markets. Some countries aren't buying as many this year, while others are buying more but are paying low prices. Chris Schlect, president of the Northwest Horticultural Council, which represents the tree fruit industry, said labor issues also must be addressed in the coming year. Unionization and housing for migrant workers continue to be significant matters in Central Washington, while the Mexican government is looking into the treatment of workers in the Washington apple industry.
"Never before have we been confronted with so many challenges at one time," Kraig Naasz, president of the U.S. Apple Association, said Thursday.
The trade and production issues that made 1998 difficult could continue to be problems in coming years, he said after a meeting of the Washington Apple Commission in Yakima. "I look at this year as an opportunity, an opportunity for our industry to get ahead of schedule for the new millennium" by addressing troublesome issues now, he said. "One of the most critical challenges will be to invite our consumers here and around the world to eat more apples." U.S. growers produced an estimated 265 million, 42-pound boxes of fresh apples this year. Final figures won't be available until July. The record was set in 1994 at 273 million boxes. For the first time, growers in Washington this year broke the century-mark, producing 100.3 million boxes. The figures don't include apples sent for processing or apples left to rot in the orchard because prices dropped so low. The average selling price for a box of fresh apples is about $12.50 this year, compared with nearly $16 last year. For juice apples, prices dropped to $10 to $20 a ton, compared with more than $100 a ton last year. Last summer, Washington growers assessed themselves an extra 15 cents a box specifically to pay for advertising aimed at boosting domestic consumption of apples. And at the annual Washington Horticultural Association convention this week, growers talked about ways to improve the image of the Red Delicious apple which, although still the No. 1 apple, many consumers have soured on. Washington typically produces about 60 percent of the nation's fresh apples and accounts for 93 percent of all U.S. apple exports. Growers here are eager to see more markets opened to Washington apples, as they struggle with overseas trade and competition woes. The U.S. Apple Association is preparing an anti-dumping case against China and other countries, accusing them of selling unfairly priced apple juice concentrate in the United States and driving down the price. Imports of apple juice concentrate from China have increased 997 percent in the last three years, while the price for the concentrate has fallen 51 percent, the apple association said. Ultimately, the case could result in the U.S. Department of Commerce imposing duties on the foreign concentrate. Naasz called the case "a top priority" of his McLean, Va.-based association. The Asian economic crisis also has affected apple sales in some key export markets. Some countries aren't buying as many this year, while others are buying more but are paying low prices. Chris Schlect, president of the Northwest Horticultural Council, which represents the tree fruit industry, said labor issues also must be addressed in the coming year. Unionization and housing for migrant workers continue to be significant matters in Central Washington, while the Mexican government is looking into the treatment of workers in the Washington apple industry.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий