Mar 9, 2012

August apple report reinstated

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has reinstated its August estimate of the U.S. apple crop, according to the U.S. Apple Association.

In February, USApple President Nancy Foster met with Catherine Woteki, USDA under secretary for research, education and economics, to discuss the importance of the August estimate and to recommend its continuation. USDA formally announced the August report’s reinstatement and the schedule for its data collection on March 9.

“We are pleased that USDA has agreed to restore the publication of the August crop report,” Foster said. “The loss of this data would have harmed the U.S. apple industry. While we understand the current economic environment requires regulatory agencies to make tough decisions, our job was to provide them with accurate and current information to help them make the right decision.”

It was announced late in 2011 that, due to budget constraints, NASS would eliminate a number of crop reports, including the August apple estimate. Upon learning that the August estimate was to be eliminated, USApple immediately called on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, urging its reinstatement.

Published at the beginning of the apple harvest, the August estimate is critically needed by packer/shippers, marketers and exporters to develop marketing plans for the highly competitive domestic and export markets, according to USApple.