Schumer: NY Apple Orchards Often Unable to Afford New, Profitable Apple Varieties, Putting Their Biz at Risk - Schumer Introduces Legislation to Help Orchards Transition to More Profitable Tress and Varieties

Press Release

In an effort to bolster New York's apple orchards so that farmers remain competitive in an intense apple market, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced legislation he will be introducing to create an innovative program to promote the renewal of the apple industry and increase the variety of apples produced. Consumer preference for new varieties of apples has driven up profits for orchards that have been able to replace old trees with trees that can produce these new apples, but planting new varieties can be extraordinarily expensive. Schumer said that New York is the second largest apple producing state in the country and that apple growers play a vital role in New York's economy and must be supported. Schumer noted that many orchards cannot meet emerging demand because of the high cost of transitioning to new varieties of apple trees or planting more efficient trees, putting New York's apple industry at a competitive disadvantage.

Schumer said that his legislation was modeled after Nova Scotia's Honeycrisp Orchard Renewal Program (HCORP) and will create a partnership between the government, the apple industry and orchards to replace older apple trees with newer apple trees that produce varieties with increased demand on the fresh market. The legislation will provide up to $20 million dollars per year for USDA to give out in low interest loans and grants to orchard owners, association of producers or farm cooperatives to upgrade their orchards. Owners or associations would apply directly to the USDA for funding. The legislation is called the APPLE Act - Apple Profit Protection for Local Economies Act.

"The time is ripe for renewal," said Schumer. "Converting apple orchards in New York to newer varieties will allow them to take advantage of the growing demand for these types of apples. We have a great opportunity to increase apple production and sales and that is why I am introducing legislation to get this modernization program going as soon as possible so that apple farmers can reap the fruits of their labor."

New York is the second largest apple producer in the country with 1,350 apple farms across the state. Every year, New York's nearly 700 commercial apple growers pump approximately $268 million into the local economy every year and are responsible for employing approximately 17,000 New Yorkers both directly and indirectly. In recent years, demand for apples has only increased as scientists confirm that apples contain vital antioxidants. New York boasts approximately 49,248 total acres for apple production.

Orchards in Nova Scotia have taken steps to tap into the new apple market by setting up the Nova Scotia's Honeycrisp Orchard Renewal Program (HCORP). The HCORP is an innovative partnership between the government, the apple industry and orchards to replace older apple trees with newer apple trees that produces varieties with increased demand on the fresh market. The change has proven to be very profitable for the orchards. According to the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, a bin of Honeycrisp apples sells on average for $514 versus $102 for a bin of Macs which is close to the break-even point for most orchards.

Despite the increase in demand for new apple varieties or more efficient trees, many producers are not currently able to convert to these kinds of apples, preventing them from tapping into a profitable market.

In an effort to maintain a thriving domestic apple industry in New York, Schumer introduced legislation to create program modeled after the HCORP to enable orchards to replace their old apple trees with trees that can produce newer, more popular varieties or that can produce apples more efficiently.

Schumer noted that last summer was unseasonably wet which has left many older trees susceptible to an increase in deadly fungus infections, now would be an advantageous time for the conversion.

Schumer added: "This also could help protect and preserve apple orchards for future generations. The bottom line is orchards need to be economically viable to keep family farms operating for future generations." Schumer said, "It's part of the summer experience to hand pick fresh NY apples. Let's make sure our kids and future generations have that experience."

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