E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Marisa Reuber
Monday, January 26, 2009

www.nass.usda.gov/ny

                VALUE OF NEW YORK FRUIT PRODUCTION DECREASES

The value of New York’s 2008 tree fruit and grape production totaled $347
million, down 6 percent from the 2007 value, according to Stephen Ropel,
Director of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York
office.   The value of utilized production was below the previous year for
apples, sweet cherries, pears, and strawberries.

The 2008 apple crop in New York was down 6 percent to 1.23 billion pounds.
This year’s value of utilized apple production, based on packinghouse door
equivalent returns, totaled $261 million.  New York ranks second in apple
production behind Washington.

Grape production in New York decreased 4 percent from 2007 to 172,000
tons.  Fresh grapes totaled 4,000 tons while 168,000 tons were crushed by
wineries and processors.  Grapes utilized for juice accounted for 73
percent of the total grapes processed with the remaining 27 percent going
for wine

The value of the 2008 grape crop is estimated at $58.4 million, 8 percent
above the 2007 crop value.  New York ranked third in grape production
behind California and Washington.

New York’s tart cherry crop is estimated at 9.6 million pounds, down 15
percent from the 2007 crop of 11.3 million pounds.  The value of utilized
production is estimated at $3.88 million.

New York sweet cherry production, at 1,050 tons, is down 12 percent from
the 1,190 tons produced in 2007.  The 2008 crop is valued at $3.24 million
compared to $3.52 million a year ago.

Peach production for the Empire State is placed at 5,500 tons, down 13
percent from the 2007 level.  The value of the 2008 crop, at $4.80 million,
is up 20 percent from 2007.

Production of pears in New York is estimated at 10,300 tons, down 6 percent
from the 2007 output of 11,000 tons.  The 2008 crop is valued at $4.74
million, down 7 percent from 2007.  New York ranks fourth nationally in
pear production.  The information in this release is available by free
email subscription by subscribing to New York reports at
www.nass.usda.gov/ny.





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1-26-09