September, 1999
Growers want the California Apple Commission to continue for another
five years.
Kenton Kidd, president of the commission said he was pleased with the mandate
from California’s apple growers who voted overwhelmingly in favor of
continuing the commission.
The vote drew 40% of the state’s 479 apple producers; 166 voted in
favor of continuation and only 28 were opposed, according to information
released by the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA).
On May 19 CDFA announced its decision to hold a grower referendum regarding
continuation. Growers had from June 15–July 15 to return their vote
on whether to continue the commission. In mid-August staff at the commission
were scrambling to continue marketing activities that have been hampered
because of the referendum vote. Kidd said he now planned to fill the merchandising
position at the commission that had been vacant.
The California Apple Commission has existed as a commission since 1994 and
prior to that as an association since 1986, according to Kidd. Growers are
assessed 1/4 of 1 cent per pound which equals 10 cents a box for a 40 lb.
box, he said. With the funds the commission coordinates customized programs
for different regions in California. One program touts the benefits of California
apples and pears with ads inside buses in Seattle, while another offers
apple tasting in chain stores.
California’s apple industry suffered depressed prices last year with
El Nino, a bumper Washington crop and Chinese imports of apple juice concentrate.
California’s apple crop is expected to be 10% larger over last year’s
volume and fruit size is expected to be a size or size and half larger.
The Granny Smith variety is expected to increase as much as one million
boxes to 3.8 million boxes. A slight growth with Galas to 1.6 million boxes
is expected. Other California apple crop projections include a decrease
in Fujis down to 1.4 million boxes and 400,000 boxes of Pink Lady.
Kidd said the decrease in Fujis is due to the lack of red color that consumers
demand. Areas in California with higher altitudes and cooler nights are
favorable for Fujis with good color, he added.
“It’s the cleanest crop we’ve had in years,” said Kidd.
The weather cooperated with a mild spring and only one week of extreme heat.
