Michigan Apples Tallies Record Shipments in September
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Denise Donohue
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The Michigan Apple industry sold a record number of apples this September, according to an analysis of USDA shipping reports, according to the Michigan Apple Committee (MAC). For the four weeks of September, the state shipped 950,367 cases of apples, according to figures received earlier this week from the USDA’s Market News Service. The year-to-date figure was a healthy 1.1 million boxes shipped.
“September figures can vary pretty significantly, depending on how ‘late’ harvest began, weather conditions during harvest and of course, the actual crop volume,” said Denise Donohue, Executive Director of the state’s apple committee. “This year, despite one of the latest blossoming periods on record, our harvest began pretty much at a normal timeframe. Heat conditions during summer allowed our apple trees to play catch-up, yet we avoided any heat-related damage to the crop.
“In short, it was a great summer to be growing apples in Michigan,” Donohue concluded.
October, which is always the largest apple-shipping month, will see Michigan shipment volumes increase, Donohue said. Currently, the state is packing 11 apple varieties. “All of our packers are working six days a week, multiple shifts or longer hours, and some have had to work a bit on Sundays to keep pace with demand.”
The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded, nonprofit organization devoted to promotion, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan Apple and encourage its consumption by consumers in Michigan and around the world. MAC represents 900 family-operated commercial apple orchards. For more information visit MichiganApples.com.