Aomori Prefecture's annual forecast for Aomori apple production is officially announced every August; there has been a significant discrepancy between the forecast and the actual harvest figures in recent years.
One reason for this discrepancy may lie in the timing of the survey, which is conducted from mid-July to early August. During the period between the survey and the main harvest season—typically from October to early November—there have often been lingering high temperatures in August and September, which may have affected the crop yields.
While efforts are underway to switch to more heat-tolerant rice varieties in response to a shortage, apple varietal development requires several years, making it difficult to implement immediate countermeasures.
© Aomori
"At present, although there are regional differences, overall, the number of blossoms in early spring was higher than in the last couple of years. As a result, the fruit set is sufficient, and in fact, the prefectural government has issued guidance advising growers to carry out more thinning in order to prevent overbearing," explained Hideo Obori from Aomori Trading.
Due to the heavy snowfall last winter, there were many cases of damage, such as broken branches, split trunks, and new shoots being gnawed by mice. However, in orchards that suffered little damage, conditions appear to be progressing well.
"From June through the present in July, the summer has been as hot as it was last year and the year before. This is not limited to Japan — news reports highlight extreme heat in Paris and wildfires in Spain caused by frequent heatwaves, suggesting that the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing a hot summer globally.
"Although June to July is typically the rainy season in Japan, this year the season was shorter than usual and ended with less rainfall. Apple growth is currently reported to be going well, but there are concerns about sunburn damage to the fruit caused by the intense heat."
Preparations for exports to the UK and EU are underway again this year. We hope that Aomori apples will gradually gain recognition in Europe.
Aomori Trading will again be at Asia Fruit Logistica this year with Aomori apples from Japan.
"As in previous years, we will exhibit under the name 'Aomori Apples from Japan', focusing on showcasing and promoting apples produced in Aomori Prefecture."
"The economic downturn in China, including Hong Kong, is expected to take time to recover. On the other hand, although we have heard that Taiwan's economy is currently somewhat weakened due to the impact of Trump-era tariffs, it remains the most important market for Aomori apples. We plan to allocate management resources with a sales strategy focused on the Taiwanese market, while also continuing our efforts to approach emerging markets."
Aomori Trading will be at Asia Fruit Logisitca Hall 5 Booth 5B19.
For more information:
Hideo Obori
Aomori Trading Co., Ltd.
Tel: +81 (172) 88-8115
Email: [email protected]
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