USDA May Buy Smaller Apples for Public Schools

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Story Published: May 1, 2009 at 5:50 PM PDT

By Melissa Wagner

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The Washington Apple Commission and several other groups are lobbying the USDA to help out. They want the government to buy up to a million boxes of apples to clear out the extras before this year's harvest. The apples would go to public schools. Either way, the industry will still see a glut that will drastically cut sales. Keith Matthews with the Apple Valley Growers and Shippers Association says, "I think in either scenario we'll have some apples about a year old but still very good that will be marketed in September/October as we start to generate new apples from a new crop."

Several senators joined the plea to the USDA, including Senators Cantwell and Murray and also Congressman Doc Hastings. They hope to have an answer soon.

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