Wet spring, summer drought limiting apple production in the northwest
Some farmers have seen their apply supply drop by up to 60% this year
Wet spring, summer drought limiting apple production in the northwest
Two straight summers of high temperatures and drought have put a dent in Washington State's apple supply this year. Some farmers are raising prices to offset lower production.
Snohomish, WA. - Some orchards in Washington State, the leading apple producer in the U.S. last year, only have a few apples left on their trees.
"It was a variety of different things that made this season such a difficult season dating back to the year before," said Swans Trail Farms Operations Manager Nate Krause.
Two straight summers of high temperatures and drought have put a dent in this year’s supply.
"This year we lost about 60% of our crop comparable to the year past, by the amount of apples that we took off of our trees," Krause said.
CALIFORNIA'S DROUGHT ADDS TO FOOD INFLATION WITH TOMATOES, ONIONS, GARLIC HIT
Swans Trail Farms in Washington State is almost out of apples much earlier than normal. (Fox News)
It’s more than just the heat. Washington also had a cold and rainy spring, limiting the amount of pollen in the air, which apple trees need.
DROUGHT FORCES FARMERS TO SCALE BACK AND OTHERS TO FOLD AS ECONOMISTS WARN OF PRICE HIKES
"You had some frosts and some cold weather that impacted pollination and is expected to reduce production," said Christopher Gerlach with the U.S. Apple Association.
Swans Trail Farms only had enough apples for three days of apple picking this year (Fox News)
Some farmers are having trouble making ends meet.
"It’s really putting a lot of these small family growers on the cusp," Gerlach said.
FOOD PRICES COULD SURGE HIGHER AS EXTREME WEATHER HURTS FARMERS
Swans Trail Farms increased their apple prices this year to $3.50/lb, up from $3.00/lb, to make up for the smaller supply. Krause is hoping that’s the last increase they’ll have to make.
Swans Trail Farms raised their price for a pound of apples by $0.50 this year (Fox News)
"In farming, you’re just going to have those years," Krause said. "You have to weather yourself, you know, for those bad years."
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
The average national retail price for apples this year is $1.31/lb, the highest in the last five years.