European and US apple inventories down; organic segment with premium supply
European apple stocks remain ample but with falling prices due to high supply and weaker demand. US Pacific Northwest inventories for Gala and Red Delicious are lower than last year, impacting export availability.
In Western Europe, the end of the 2025/26 apple marketing season is marked by lower wholesale and export prices, driven by higher-than-expected supply and weaker buyer interest. Across Europe, there is still significant availability of apples, with slow movement to distant export markets and reduced demand from both importers and consumers. Standard apple varieties in Europe recorded price drops of 7–9% during late June and early July 2026. For dessert apples, average first-class purchase prices at the end of June and beginning of July were €0.34/kg (1.46 PLN/kg), nearly 10% lower than a month earlier. Export-oriented varieties such as Gala and Red Delicious saw limited price changes compared to the previous month, as their supply was already low due to earlier reductions in stock and steady export movement in spring. The price of Red Prince apples declined more noticeably in the same period due to greater availability and lower demand.
In Italy, the Val Venosta region continues to supply premium organic apples even in the late summer phase, maintaining high quality and storability. VIP, a major supplier, is one of the few able to guarantee structural and sensory quality in organic apples comparable to freshly harvested fruit, which is a key advantage for European retailers seeking premium organic offerings before the new harvest. The microclimate and altitude in the Venosta Valley contribute to the apples’ extended shelf life and firmness, supporting stable export volumes in the organic segment.
In France, Blue Whale, the leading producer of Juliet apples, is focusing on exports outside Europe, with the first shipments of this proprietary, organic-certified variety reaching China in May 2026. Blue Whale accounts for 50–70% of Juliet apple output in the first half of 2026 and plans to export 100–150 metric tons to China this season. The company remains a key player in the organic and premium apple export sector, with most of its Juliet production still directed to European and overseas markets.
In the United States, Washington State’s apple holdings as of June 6, 2026, stood at approximately 35 million boxes, down from 38 million boxes a year earlier. Inventories of Gala and Red Delicious apples are tighter due to smaller crops and strong demand earlier in the season, while Honeycrisp supplies remain robust. The transition to the 2026/27 crop is expected to begin in August, with continued availability of core varieties such as Fuji, Granny Smith, and proprietary types like Cosmic Crisp. US apple exporters note steady global demand, particularly for premium varieties, but reduced stocks of Gala and Red Delicious may limit export volumes into Europe in the coming weeks.
A new research project involving Chilean apple growers and US universities is focusing on post-harvest disorders, such as bitter pit, in key export varieties like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith. The study aims to improve quality control and reduce losses, which could impact the availability and quality of Chilean apples for the European market in future seasons.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker