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Economic Status of the New Jersey Apple Industry
by
Jerome L. Frecon¹

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service reports in 1997 that New Jersey produced 65,000,000 pounds of apples on 4100 acres. This crop was valued at 9,100,000 dollars. This would make New Jersey 15th in acreage and 13 in total volume of apples produced in the Unite States.

The New Jersey Apple Industry is diverse in growing areas, varieties, rootstocks and management systems, and marketing methods. The Orchard and Vineyard Survey done by the New Jersey Agricultural Statistics Service in 1992 there were 246 farms growing apples on 346,063 trees covering 4,133 acres. In 1987 169 growers were growing apples on 351,585 trees covering 4218 acres.

During the five year period from 1987 to 1992 farmers growing apples increased but orchards got smaller in all areas of the state state. A few large growers went out of business while smaller growers increased tree density.

In 1992 2,243 acres of fruit were grown by 71 orchardists in the southern district of the state which was 54 percent of the acreage. Of this 1390 acres were in Gloucester County with 467 acres in Atlantic County. Forty eight growers were producing 736 acres in the Central District including 322 acres in Burlington, 91 acres in Mercer, 104 in Middlesex and 219 in Monmouth county. Monmouth for many years was the number one producing county in New Jersey. In the northern district which includes Bergen, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren, 112 growers grew 948 acres.

What has happened to the industry since that last survey? Unofficial surveys show acreage and number of growers producing apples has declined statewide. The biggest decline has occurred in the Southern District of the state as well as Burlington County in the Central District. The decline has been less dramatic in the counties north of Burlington.

According to a review done by Win Cowgill, Agricultural Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Hunterdon County, "The apple industry is pretty vibrant in the Northern District." Some farms have been sold due to development pressure but many growers have continued to directly market their fruit on the farm either through the development of efficient farm marketing operations, or through the promotion of apple farming as an educational and recreational experience. On many of these farms it's not uncommon to see thousands of school children touring apple orchard, or families involved in festivals and other activities during the fall harvest season. A significant volume of fruit is "U-picked" or creatively marketed on the farm. Some of these farms actually buy additional apples from southern New Jersey or out of state orchards to supply their customers. Wholesale prices for these apples have been attractive enough so that some growers find this more profitable than expanding their apple acreage. Some apples are processed into various apple products like juice and cider. Other growers will participate in farmers markets, and through other innovative marketing outlets. Many of the problems facing these growers are similar to all farmers retailing on the farm. Encroaching suburbia is sometimes in conflict with acceptable management practices employed by recreational and direct retailing fruit operations.

1_{Professor
Jerome L. Frecon is a County Agricultural Agent with Rutgers Cooperative
Extension}



		Economic Status of the New Jersey Apple Industry by Jerome L. Frecon¹ The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service reports in 1997 that New Jersey produced 65,000,000 pounds of apples on 4100 acres. This crop was valued at 9,100,000 dollars. This would make New Jersey 15th in acreage and 13 in total volume of apples produced in the Unite States. The New Jersey Apple Industry is diverse in growing areas, varieties, rootstocks and management systems, and marketing methods. The Orchard and Vineyard Survey done by the New Jersey Agricultural Statistics Service in 1992 there were 246 farms growing apples on 346,063 trees covering 4,133 acres. In 1987 169 growers were growing apples on 351,585 trees covering 4218 acres. During the five year period from 1987 to 1992 farmers growing apples increased but orchards got smaller in all areas of the state state. A few large growers went out of business while smaller growers increased tree density. In 1992 2,243 acres of fruit were grown by 71 orchardists in the southern district of the state which was 54 percent of the acreage. Of this 1390 acres were in Gloucester County with 467 acres in Atlantic County. Forty eight growers were producing 736 acres in the Central District including 322 acres in Burlington, 91 acres in Mercer, 104 in Middlesex and 219 in Monmouth county. Monmouth for many years was the number one producing county in New Jersey. In the northern district which includes Bergen, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren, 112 growers grew 948 acres. What has happened to the industry since that last survey? Unofficial surveys show acreage and number of growers producing apples has declined statewide. The biggest decline has occurred in the Southern District of the state as well as Burlington County in the Central District. The decline has been less dramatic in the counties north of Burlington. According to a review done by Win Cowgill, Agricultural Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Hunterdon County, "The apple industry is pretty vibrant in the Northern District." Some farms have been sold due to development pressure but many growers have continued to directly market their fruit on the farm either through the development of efficient farm marketing operations, or through the promotion of apple farming as an educational and recreational experience. On many of these farms it's not uncommon to see thousands of school children touring apple orchard, or families involved in festivals and other activities during the fall harvest season. A significant volume of fruit is "U-picked" or creatively marketed on the farm. Some of these farms actually buy additional apples from southern New Jersey or out of state orchards to supply their customers. Wholesale prices for these apples have been attractive enough so that some growers find this more profitable than expanding their apple acreage. Some apples are processed into various apple products like juice and cider. Other growers will participate in farmers markets, and through other innovative marketing outlets. Many of the problems facing these growers are similar to all farmers retailing on the farm. Encroaching suburbia is sometimes in conflict with acceptable management practices employed by recreational and direct retailing fruit operations.
		1_{Professor Jerome L. Frecon is a County Agricultural Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension}