2005 Industry News Releases

Apple Industry Prevails in Extending Concentrate Antidumping Order (Sept. 19)
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted today to maintain the current antidumping order on imports of Chinese non-frozen apple juice concentrate to avoid further injury to the domestic apple industry. In a unanimous vote this afternoon, the ITC Commissioners voted to prevent a return of the predatory pricing practices of the 1990s which harmed the domestic concentrate industry. The decision is the last step in the process to extend the current antidumping order for five years. The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) submitted substantive comments in support of the extension.

Commerce Sees Need for Chinese Concentrate Antidumping Order (September 9)
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that Chinese apple juice concentrate exporters are expected to sell product at unfair prices in the United States if the current apple juice concentrate antidumping order is revoked. The decision, based in part on information submitted by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), is the first step in continuing import duties on non-frozen apple juice concentrate (NFAJC) from China and represents a victory for domestic concentrate producers and U.S. apple growers.

USApple Urges Five-Year Extension of Concentrate Duties (June 24)
The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is calling on the U.S. Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission to extend for five years the import duties currently in place as part of the antidumping order on non-frozen apple juice concentrate from China. Elimination of the antidumping order, and the associated duties, will encourage more Chinese apple juice concentrate to enter the U.S. market, causing prices to decline and harming the few remaining apple juice concentrate producers still operating in the United States. The loss of domestic concentrate producers would also force juice apple prices lower and put an even greater economic strain on America’s apple growers.

Fresh Apple Movement Accelerates in March (April 12)
The rate at which fresh apples are moving out of the storage across the country continues to surpass levels seen last year, and the five-year average, according to the latest nationwide survey of apple storage facilities conducted by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple). Total fresh movement in March was 21 percent above last year’s levels and 5 percent better than the five-year average. The strong movement is attributed to greater supplies of fresh apples and continued strong demand this season.

CAFTA-DR is a Home Run for American Agriculture & Apples (April 11)
The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is again calling on Congress to approve the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR). This trade agreement covers an important export market for American apples, and its passage would remove the price disadvantage that U.S. apples currently face.

Cornell Study Finds Apples May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk (Mar. 1)
Cornell University has conducted the first-ever study on the direct effects of apples on breast cancer prevention in animals. In this study, led by Dr. Rui Hai Lui, Cornell Associate Professor of Food Science, the more apples consumed, the greater reduction in the incidence and number of breast cancer tumors. Research found that the phytochemicals present in apples may contribute to their anti-cancer activities. This study is available online at http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/asap/abs/jf058010c.html and is published in the March 2005 edition of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

USDA Secretary Promises Action on New EU Plant Health Directive (Feb. 17)
USDA Secretary Mike Johanns questioned the scientific basis of a new European Union regulation which would create new trade barriers for U.S. apples. Johanns told a Congressional subcommittee that he shares their concerns and the Department is actively “engaging with the EU” to resolve the matter before the April 1 implementation.

National Apple Month Expanding Outreach to Foodservice Industry (Feb. 17)
A generous grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will allow USApple’s National Apple Month (NAM) Program to expand its outreach to the national foodservice industry. By taking this program to the next level with the foodservice industry, NAM hopes to increase the sales and consumption of apples and apple products.

Fresh Apple Movement Continued to Soar in January (Feb. 14)
Fresh apples moved out of storage at a higher level in January than during the same period last year, according to the U.S. Apple Association (USApple). This increase marks the continued success of the industry to keep fresh, high-quality apples in the hands of consumers. The larger, higher quality crop the apple industry produced this season has resulted in stronger movement of fresh apples since tracking began in November.

USApple Calls for Passage of Trade Agreement (Feb. 1)
The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) joined with more than 50 other agricultural groups in supporting passage of the U.S. Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR). The agreement would help ensure fair and free market access for U.S. apples and other commodities in Central American markets. The implementation of this trade agreement offers a significant and immediate market growth opportunity for U.S. apple exports. For a copy of the letter to Congress, click here.

National Apple Month Announces 2004 Display Contest Winners (Feb. 1)
U. S. Apple Association’s National Apple Month program today announced the winners of the fall 2004 National Apple Month retail and military display contests, bringing the apple industry’s fall generic apple promotion to a close.

Apple Groups Call for Changes in European Trade Policy (Jan. 14)
Additional costs and challenges to maintaining fruit quality are two of the feared results from a new foreign trade barrier the European Union (EU) is placing on U.S. apples, and the industry is asking the U.S. government to help gain the removal of the new requirement. In an effort lead by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman has been asked to seek the "prompt removal" of this new trade barrier. Click here for a copy of the letter to Secretary Veneman.

Strong Apple Movement Continues in December (Jan. 12)
The U.S. apple industry produced a great crop in 2004, and generated strong apple movement through December. Total apple movement in December was almost 16 percent above the five-year average for this time of year and 18 percent above the December 2003 movement level, according to a survey of apple storage facilities conducted by the U.S. Apple Association.