pending on the total amount stored, the rate, in terms of percent, of 

 the amount stored is quite constant, as shown in Chart 2. 



In addition to the 64 percent of the fresh apple crop that goes into 

 cold storage annually, a good portion of those remaining is not sold 

 at harvest time. Many apples are placed in "common storage" hefore 

 movement into retail channels.^ ^ Apples so stored must he moved out 

 during the early part of the marketing season, as they lose quality 

 rapidly. Thus, during the months of Septemher, Octoher, November 

 and Deceml)er the movement of fresh apples into retail channels is very 

 heavy, with apples originating from three sources: (1) direct from har- 

 vest operations, (2) common storage, and (3) refrigerated storage (this 

 is not significant until December). 



Foreign Trade in Apples 



Currently, foreign trade is relatively unimportant to the apple market. 

 During the past 20 years, apple exports have been declining rapidly 

 while imports have been increasing slightly, leading to the present 

 import-export l)alanoe as shown in Chart 3. 



Foreign Trade in Apples Declining 



Chart 3 shows a drastic reduction in apple exports between 1938 and 

 1940. This occurred presumably because of the curtailing of all foreign 

 trade prior to World War II. During the post-war period net apple ex- 

 ports have not increased; in fact, there has been some tendency for 

 them to decrease still further. Two factors have been primarily re- 

 sponsible for this. First, the dollar shortage in Great Britain and France, 

 formerly the principle receivers of apple exports, sharply reduced pur- 

 chases. The import policy of these countries was to shift dollar pur- 

 chases away from non-essential items, such as apples, to items essential 

 to the economic redevelopment. The second important factor concerns 

 apple production in Europe. During the period 1935 to 1939 average 

 production was at aliout 289 million bushels. By the period 1958 to 

 1960 the average annual production had increased 70 percent to 494 

 million bushels. It would appear, therefore, that Europe is now in a 

 better position to satisfy its own demand for apples. The former prime 

 importers of American fresh apples. Great Britain and France, have 

 increased their production of fresh apples by 290 percent. 



Little Change Expected in the Future 



The current upward trend of apple production in Europe gives scant 

 indication of a possible increase in United States apple exports as the 

 dollar shortage is relieved. A possibility does seem to exist for expansion 

 of exports to Latin America. Exports to this area now total about 

 700,000 bushels, having increased 54 percent since the period 1934 to 

 1938. Should exports double during the next decade, they would still 

 amount to only about 1 percent of total production. Since this area pro- 

 duces many fruits other than apples for domestic use, the potential for 

 exports here does not seem great. 



11 The term "'common storage" refers to non-refrigerated storage facilities. 



21 



