McLean, Va. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced its intent to purchase an additional 387,000 cartons of fresh apples this fall for school lunch and other domestic feeding programs. USDA previously announced plans to purchase 438,000 cartons of new-crop apples earlier this month, bringing the total number of anticipated buys announced thus far to roughly 825,000 cartons.

“These additional apple purchases, when combined with previously announced buys and a smaller crop forecast, should significantly strengthen our industry’s marketing efforts and improve its bottom line,” said U.S. Apple Association (USApple) President and Chief Executive Officer Kraig R. Naasz. “In addition to assisting our industry, USDA is providing America’s school children with a healthy and nutritious food kids love to eat.”

Approximately 387,166 cartons will be purchased from funds made available by the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (ARPA), which provided $200 million for the purchase of produce that experienced low prices during the 1998 or 1999 crop years. This is the third purchase of fresh apples made possible by ARPA, which specifically directed USDA to purchase apples along with eight other fruits and vegetables. USDA bought 88,700 cartons of fresh apples from the 2000 apple crop utilizing these funds, and earlier this month announced its intent to purchase approximately 358,000 cartons of 2001 crop fresh apples.

Of the 387,166 additional cartons USDA now plans to buy, approximately 253,176 cartons will be purchased for delivery from Dec. 31, 2001, to June 30, 2002. The remaining 133,890 cartons will be purchased in two separate installments of 128,436 cartons and 5,554 cartons, both for delivery from Jan. 7, 2002, to Feb. 27, 2002.

USApple worked diligently with key allies in Congress over the past several months to garner increased purchases of apples and apple products. Specifically, Reps. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) and Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) were joined by 46 of their House colleagues, while Sens. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Carl Levin (R-Mich.) along with 25 of their colleagues in the Senate wrote Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman in March urging USDA to purchases additional apples and apple products.

More recently, USApple last month issued its forecast of the 2001 U.S. apple crop of 215 million bushels, which is 15 percent smaller than the 2000 crop and 16 percent lower than the five-year average. The smaller crop combined with USDA’s announced fresh apple purchases should greatly enhance the industry’s year-round marketing efforts.

The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is the national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 40 state apple associations representing 9,000 apple growers throughout the country, as well as nearly 500 individual firms involved in the apple business. USApple’s mission is to provide the means for all segments of the U.S. apple industry to join in appropriate collective efforts to profitably produce and market apples and apple products.