Progress to Date:

A major part of the project is to analyze the updated data from the latest Michigan fruit orchard survey by the Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service. Although this orchard survey report has not yet been published, analysis of preliminary data on Michigan’s apple acreage by varieties has been made. The preliminary results which show changes in Michigan’s bearing acreage by variety are summarized in the attached table.

Red Delicious continues to be Michigan’s largest variety with 13,300 acres planted in the state. Total acreage of Red Delicious in Michigan decreased by 6% since the previous orchard survey which was published in 1995. In surveys of grocery trade customers and Michigan shippers, both groups expect that Red Delicious will continue to be the fresh market variety for Michigan with the greatest volume of demand during the next 5 years.

Golden Delicious acreage in Michigan increased to 6,800 acres in 1998 according to the preliminary orchard survey data. This was an increase of 12% compared to the previous orchard survey published in 1995 and a 19% increase over Michigan’s Golden Delicious acreage since the 1992 orchard survey. Both Michigan shippers and processors have indicated in recent surveys that Golden Delicious is one of the varieties which Michigan should continue to emphasize.

Michigan’s acreage of the newer varieties of Gala, Jonagold and Fuji have all increased substantially as shown by the preliminary data for 1998. Grocery trade customers indicated in their recent survey that they expect the demand for all three of these varieties will increase during the next five years. The surveyed grocery trade customers also suggested that Michigan growers continue to plant and grow high quality Red Delicious, McIntosh and Jonathan.

Analysis of the preliminary data on new plantings, removals and orchard age distribution have been made in relation to these factors for future bearing acreage. Projections of future acreage by variety for Michigan will be made when the final orchard data becomes available.

Trends in U.S. apple production and acreage by variety are being analyzed. As shown in the accompanying graphs, Red and Golden Delicious production in the U.S. have shown relatively steady trends during the 1990s, while the U.S. production of McIntosh and Jonathan have trended downward. The nation’s production of Fuji, Gala and Empire have shown upward growth trends.