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UK remains Washington's target
United States
Wednesday 21 November 2007
Despite increasing activity elsewhere in Europe, the UK market continues to represent the main attraction for Washingtons apple growers.
This year, harvesting of Washington apples kicked off as usual in mid-August and will continue until November. So far the growing conditions have been ideal, particularly during the late summer to early autumn period, the cold, crisp nights and warm days combining to produce exceptional skin colour and the excellent cell structure that gives Washington apples their renowned "crunch".
The states apple growers may export to over 60 countries worldwide, but within Europe, the largest market remains, comfortably, the UK, a country that imports approximately 1m bushels per season.
"The UK is consistently one of the top ten export markets for Washington apples," says George Smith of the Washington Apple Commission. "There has been an increase in the past few seasons, reflecting the growing availability of the Cripps Pink variety, as well as organically grown Washington apples."
These two varieties together make up almost 60 per cent of the states apple exports to the UK, continues Mr Smith. The top nine commercially grown varieties in Washington are - in addition to Cripps Pink - Red Delicious, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Braeburn, Jonagold and Cameo.
According to Mr Smith, there is also a growing number of Honeycrisp, Jazz and Ambrosia varieties appearing on supermarket shelves, although supplies of these "club" varieties are far more limited due to restricted growing rights.
The growing area is fairly stable, says Mr Smith, and although orchards close to towns are being ploughed under in order to make way for housing developments, higher-density plantings elsewhere are compensating for these removals. New technologies are also being utilised to further raise standards.
This year, harvesting of Washington apples kicked off as usual in mid-August and will continue until November. So far the growing conditions have been ideal, particularly during the late summer to early autumn period, the cold, crisp nights and warm days combining to produce exceptional skin colour and the excellent cell structure that gives Washington apples their renowned "crunch".
The states apple growers may export to over 60 countries worldwide, but within Europe, the largest market remains, comfortably, the UK, a country that imports approximately 1m bushels per season.
"The UK is consistently one of the top ten export markets for Washington apples," says George Smith of the Washington Apple Commission. "There has been an increase in the past few seasons, reflecting the growing availability of the Cripps Pink variety, as well as organically grown Washington apples."
These two varieties together make up almost 60 per cent of the states apple exports to the UK, continues Mr Smith. The top nine commercially grown varieties in Washington are - in addition to Cripps Pink - Red Delicious, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Braeburn, Jonagold and Cameo.
According to Mr Smith, there is also a growing number of Honeycrisp, Jazz and Ambrosia varieties appearing on supermarket shelves, although supplies of these "club" varieties are far more limited due to restricted growing rights.
The growing area is fairly stable, says Mr Smith, and although orchards close to towns are being ploughed under in order to make way for housing developments, higher-density plantings elsewhere are compensating for these removals. New technologies are also being utilised to further raise standards.
