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August 2003, World Apple Report Highlights

New Varieties Catch Up with Old
The World Apple Report annual survey of retailer ratings of apple varieties and suppliers shows a continuation of recent trends. Gala/Royal Gala remains the highest-rated variety and Washington State the highest rated supplier, just ahead of New Zealand. Of the six top-rated varieties, three (Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith) are long-established while three (Gala, Fuji and Braeburn) are relatively new. Retailers plan to add more stocks of newer varieties than they reduce stocks of older varieties.

Food Retailers Fear Supercenters
The percentage of U.S. supermarkets seeing significant competition from supercenters has soared from one third in 2001 to one half in 2002. Their major response has been to remodel existing stores. These are just some of the findings of the Food Industry Center's 2002 Supermarket Annual report. In a special analysis, the report shows that more than half of all stores surveyed now share decisions with suppliers on apple pricing, advertising, space allocation and promotion.

Surging Appetite for Fruit Imports
U.S. consumers have shown a surging appetite for fruit imports in the last decade. The surge has been strongest in tropical and exotic fruits such as guavas, papayas and mangos. However, imports of many other fruits, including competing apples, pears and table grapes have also grown rapidly. Supplies of imported fruit have both increased in total volume and in the length of the period in which they are available in the U.S. market, putting increasing competitive pressure on domestic fruit producers.

Special Statistics
Obesity Levels among Adults, Selected Countries Level in 2000 and Estimated Increase in the 1990s (chart).
EU: Imports of Fresh Fruit, 1984-2001 (chart).
U.S.: Imports of All Fresh Fruits, 1992 and 2002 (table).
Average Retailer Ratings, by Variety, 2003 (chart).
Average Retailer Ratings, by Supplier, 2003 (chart).

The authoritative guide to the world apple business today.

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