Moran speaks with BDN about Maine’s apple crop
Renae Moran, a tree fruit specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, was quoted in a Bangor Daily News article about Maine’s apple crop forecast. The summer drought may affect this year’s harvest, according to the article, and commercial growers in southern and central Maine are focused on the next few weeks to determine the nature, size and quality of the fruit. Climatic shifts might affect supplies into next year, as well, the article states. “I am concerned about how well our fruit will hold up in storage because a large part of the apple crop is stored in refrigeration until winter or spring,” Moran said. “Apples need wet soil to take up calcium from the soil. When they don’t get enough calcium, they can lose quality during storage.” She added she is taking a wait-and-see approach about this year’s harvest. “At this time, it’s hard to predict how well apples will store, but there will be enough fruit for an abundant pick-your-own season. I suspect we have enough apples in the state to supply supermarkets well into March,” she said.