Total apple production in New York is forecast at 590 million pounds based on conditions as of Aug. 1, according to King Whetstone, U.S. Agriculture Department National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office director.
Production is 52 percent less than the 1.22 billion pounds produced in 2011 and is the lowest production estimate since 1948, when production was 564 million pounds. Across the state, growers reported significant losses due to adverse weather conditions. A warm spring season prompted trees to begin budding earlier than usual. Immediately following the warm spell in March, multiple freezes in April damaged many of the buds. In July, drought conditions hampered most of the remaining production. The first U.S. apple production forecast for the 2012 crop year is 8.07 billion pounds, 14 percent less than the 2011 crop.
Grape production in New York is expected to total 115,000 tons, according to growers' reports. Production is a 39 percent decrease from 2011. The forecast is the lowest since 1977, when 101,000 tons was produced. Across the state, growers faced more challenging growing conditions than last year. Warm weather in March resulted in an early bud break. This was followed by several frosts and freezes in April. Growers also encountered drought like conditions throughout June and July. The Chautauqua-Lake Erie grape belt reported a poor growing year. Unusually warm March weather produced early growth that was met with April freezes. The Finger Lakes region experienced the warm March and April freezes, but experienced less damage than the Lake Erie area. Long Island growers did not have the same issues with weather that growers in central and western New York experienced. U.S. grape production is forecast at 7.30 million tons, a 1 percent decrease from 2011.
Peach production in New York is forecast at a record-low 2,700 tons. The forecasted production, if realized, would be a 60 percent decrease from 2011's level of 6,800 tons and down 54 percent less than 2010. The August 2012 forecast of U.S. peach production is 1.02 million tons, 5 percent less than 2011.
Pear production in New York is expected to total a record low, 2,500 tons, a 79 percent decrease from the production level in 2011. U.S. production is forecast at 878.5 thousand tons, a decrease of 8 percent from last year and 8 percent more than 2010.
The peach and pear forecast productions were both affected by the warm March and April freezes, similar to all other fruits.