New York apple growers finished the 2004 harvest season with a crop they estimate to be one of their biggest ever, with many growers around the state reporting the biggest crop of apples they have ever picked.
The New York Apple Association said its initial predictions of a 26.5 million bushel crop are likely to be exceeded, according to growers polled at the annual board meeting of the association in Syracuse last week.
The mild weather during bloom in May helped facilitate bee activity promoting good pollination of the buds. Heavy rains during the summer added size to the fruit. Then cool, sunny weather during the autumn harvest put colour and sugar content in the fruit.
This is the second season running that New York apple growers have harvested a good crop, following several years of low crop yields related to poor weather conditions.
Go deeper with GlobalData
