{Sponsored} “I just love seeing fruit in the box at harvest,” says Jill Tonne, a Simplot Grower Solutions orchard consultant in Ephrata, Washington. “2020 has been a hard year in so many ways but despite all that, the predictions are good and the market is looking stronger.”
Indeed, when the Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA) released its forecast for the 2020 apple crop, growers heaved a collective sigh of relief in knowing that strong consumer demand would be met with an ample and high-quality harvest—134 million standard 40-pound boxes, almost identical to 2019’s 133.9 million box crop.
“Growers haven’t had an easy year,” notes Jill, who’s been providing advice and consultation to Washington’s apple growers for more than 15 years. “Budgets are top of mind and that’s required a rethink of programs and approaches.”
Washington’s orchards produce six in every ten apples consumed in the United States. Gala will account for around a quarter of this year’s crop, ahead of Red Delicious and Fuji. But it’s the runaway demand for Honeycrisp that creates headaches for Jill’s clients.
Spectacularly popular amongst consumers, the Honeycrisp isn’t viewed with the same enthusiasm by those who grow it. The fabulous crunch—and mouth-filling flavor—that draws consumers into paying premium prices for the apple is its sole redeeming feature, for it’s not a variety that can be described as ‘easycare’.
“It’s technically needy,” explains Jill, “and a variety that typically presents the most agronomic difficulty for the grower in managing energy, nutrients and physical attributes.
“Yes, it can be highly profitable. But only through extreme attention to detail and careful management of inputs. Growers have to be on top of their game to produce a consistent crop that delivers high pack-out rates in the bin.”
Typical Honeycrisp issues are its brittle wood, which can result in snapped and broken branches, and a propensity to crop too early. It’s also vigorous, requiring more training and pruning than other varieties—not a helpful trait in a year where labor shortages are top of growers’ minds.
“It’s technically needy,” explains Jill, “and a variety that typically presents the most agronomic difficulty for the grower in managing energy, nutrients and physical attributes.
“Yes, it can be highly profitable. But only through extreme attention to detail and careful management of inputs. Growers have to be on top of their game to produce a consistent crop that delivers high pack-out rates in the bin.”
Typical Honeycrisp issues are its brittle wood, which can result in snapped and broken branches, and a propensity to crop too early. It’s also vigorous, requiring more training and pruning than other varieties—not a helpful trait in a year where labor shortages are top of growers’ minds.
“It’s technically needy,” explains Jill, “and a variety that typically presents the most agronomic difficulty for the grower in managing energy, nutrients and physical attributes.
“Yes, it can be highly profitable. But only through extreme attention to detail and careful management of inputs. Growers have to be on top of their game to produce a consistent crop that delivers high pack-out rates in the bin.”
Typical Honeycrisp issues are its brittle wood, which can result in snapped and broken branches, and a propensity to crop too early. It’s also vigorous, requiring more training and pruning than other varieties—not a helpful trait in a year where labor shortages are top of growers’ minds.