Ohio looks ripe for stronger apple crop this year

8/22/2013

MANSFIELD, Ohio — Growers say Ohio’s 2013 apple crop is shaping up to be much better than last year, when spring frosts, summer drought and other weather extremes took a big bite out of the available crop.

Ohio Fruit Growers Marketing Association president Bill Dodd says warm days and cool nights this month have helped sweeten the fruit and make it larger, giving farmers hope for a strong harvest.

Apple Hill Orchards co-owner Russ Joudrey tells The News Journal in Mansfield that heavier rains earlier this summer were concerning but didn’t do much harm.

Many orchards already are harvesting apples and looking forward to cider-making during the fall.

The newspaper says Ohio ranks 10th among the 32 apple-producing states in the United States.