Overview
The 2023 China Fuji apple season is expected to be a challenging one. Growers are predicting a 10-15% reduction in the crop size due to the freezing temperatures the region experienced in the spring, coupled with the rain through August and September. This has caused the apples' appearance imperfections, resulting in more lower-grade apples coming off the packing lines. Class 2 and 3 apples are expected to be similar to last season, but Class 1 product is seeing 40-50% higher prices than last year. Last season, Class 1 fruit tallied 30% of the crop. However, this season will only be around 8-10%. Classes 2 and 3 are also experiencing reductions of 55-60% compared to last year.
Overall, the 2023 China Fuji apple season is expected to be a smaller crop with lower quality apples but higher prices for the best quality fruit.
Here are some additional details about the China Fuji apple season:
The peak harvest season is typically late September to early October.
China is the world's largest producer of Fuji apples, accounting for about 70% of global production.
Fuji apples are late-season apples, so they are available for a longer period of time than other varieties.
Expected Volume
The total expected tonnage for China Fuji apples for 2023 is around 25 million tons. This is a 10-15% decrease from the 2022 season due to the abovementioned factors.
Here is a breakdown of the expected tonnage by grade:
Class 1: 8-10%, or 2 million tons
Class 2: 30-35%, or 7.5-8.75 million tons
Class 3: 60-65%, or 15-16.25 million tons
Prices for Class 1 and Class 2 apples are expected to be higher than last season, while the prices for Class 3 apples are expected to be similar.
Regions
Some of the specific cities in the Circum-Bohai Region that are known for their production of Fuji apples:
Yantai in Shandong province is known for its "Yantai Fuji" apples, considered some of the best in China.
Liaoning province is also a major producer of Fuji apples. The city of Jinzhou in Liaoning province is known for its "Jinzhou Fuji" apples, which are also highly regarded.
Hebei province is another major producer of Fuji apples. The city of Langfang in Hebei province is known for its "Langfang Fuji" apples, which are also popular.
Production for 2023 by region
Chart of China Fuji apples for 2023:
Total | 25,000,000 |
As you can see, Shandong is the leading producer of Fuji apples in China, followed by Liaoning and Hebei. These three provinces account for over 60% of China's total Fuji apple production.
The production of Fuji apples in China is expected to be down by about 10-15% in 2023 due to the factors mentioned earlier. However, China is still the world's largest producer of Fuji apples, and the 2023 season is expected to be significant.