About 61.5 million bushels of U.S. fresh market apples had yet to be shipped as of March 1, 3% less than last year at the same time.
The March 1 total is, however, 6% above the 5-year average of 58.2 million bushels, according to the March Market News report from the Vienna, Va.-based U.S. Apple Association.
Washington accounted for 53.1 million bushels of the U.S. total still in storage on March 1. Michigan had 3.9 million bushels, New York 3.3 million bushels and Pennsylvania 762,000 bushels.
Volumes of red delicious, galas, fujis, golden delicious and Pink Lady were down from last year.
Red delicious holdings fell from 23.9 million to 21.2 million bushels; galas from 9.6 million to 9.3 million bushels; fujis from 9.9 million to 6 million bushels; golden delicious from 7.4 million to 6.5 million bushels; and Pink Lady from 1.95 million to 1.9 million bushels.
Volumes of granny smiths increased, from 6.6 million to 8.5 million bushels.