This year, WA’s apple growers have reasons to be thankful

Because the apple harvest in Washington involves an in depth, growers have a lot to be glad about.

Almost good climate within the spring, summer season and fall resulted in a sturdy harvest of fruit with glorious dimension, coloration and taste. This follows two seasons the place growers have been challenged by above-normal temperatures, smoke and a late, moist spring that saved pollinators from going about their necessary work.

This 12 months’s harvest was additionally a robust indicator of shopper preferences. The 5 hottest apples stay Gala, Pink Scrumptious, Granny Smith, Fuji and Honeycrisp, however new varietals, like Ambrosia, Envy and Cosmic Crisp, are gaining reputation. There was additionally development within the natural apple harvest, which now represents almost 20% of all the harvest. It has been a superb 12 months to develop apples. 

On this 12 months of abundance, Washington growers may also be grateful for the reopening of a big international marketplace for our apples. Early within the 12 months, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, and U.S. Reps. Kim Schrier and Dan Newhouse helped result in an settlement with India to take away the retaliatory tariffs on apples in place since 2018.

This was welcome information certainly. The most important nation on the earth by inhabitants, India’s rising center class is a crucial marketplace for apples. With 1.4 billion folks, India must import meals to fulfill the wants of its inhabitants.

Already, extra Washington apples are returning to India. The truth is, by way of the tip of October, 201,348 bins of apples have been shipped to India this 12 months. Examine that to the three,087 bins in the identical interval final 12 months; that could be a 6,422% enhance.

And whereas that is excellent news, it’s going to take years of concerted effort to regain market share for Washington. India didn’t cease consuming apples over the 5 years the tariffs have been in place. They merely received their apples from our opponents in different nations. To achieve again this market, Washington growers have a lot work to do.

On the plus aspect, our state produces the very best apples on the globe. I believe many Washingtonians don’t understand that Washington apples are recognized the world over for distinctive high quality. The phrase “Washington” in entrance of apples, or onions, or wine, or different agricultural items heightens the constructive notion of the product. They’re enthusiastically valued and consumed by our closest neighbors, Canada and Mexico, and we’ve glorious and secure commerce relationships with each. Our apples are additionally prized in Asia and Latin America. The truth is, the standard of our agricultural bounty is one purpose Washington had a constructive commerce stability with China for a few years, one thing no different state might declare.

Complicating our restoration of the Indian market is the truth that our apples will be costlier than opponents from Iran, Turkey or South America. Whereas many customers are prepared to pay extra for high quality, many may even select the lower-priced product. Washington apples have a better value level as a result of growers, regulators and the workforce at all times attempt to do issues proper. Take the measures we take to maintain our employees secure: The Washington State Division of Labor and Industries experiences that our state is safer for agricultural employees than our closest agricultural neighbors, California, Oregon and Idaho.

Growers have additionally made nice strides in sustainability by preserving water, limiting overspray of fertilizers and different agricultural merchandise, and altering to multiuse packing supplies. Different nations might supply decrease costs, however lack these similar excessive requirements of security, employee pay and sustainability.

All these elements end in higher-quality apples. And whereas this creates an ideal story for the American shopper, I’d say additionally it is a narrative for all our international export companions. To assist construct again markets like India, growers have to work along with state and federal officers to inform the story of why our apples are superior to all comers.

Reopening India is a superb begin, however extra work must be executed. I ask our representatives in Congress and the Washington Legislature to go farther and open extra markets. South Korea and Australia nonetheless shut their markets to our apples, whereas others similar to Japan nonetheless prohibit entry. The world inhabitants is fast-growing and in want of meals. Exporting nutritious meals is sweet for growers, the state, the nation, and other people all over the world.

Apples are synonymous with Washington state. They’re our calling card to the nation and to the world at giant. Heading into Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for the improved climate and look to our authorities officers for related enhancements within the commerce coverage local weather.