Japan's 10-year-old import restrictions against U.S.-grown apples are hurting Michigan's growers, even though the state doesn't ship apples there.
The Japanese government virtually stopped importing American apples in 1994, saying it feared they would bring in fire blight, a bacterial disease that can reduce yields and kill trees.
The Asian island nation is too distant for the fruit to be shipped from Michigan, where some producers started harvesting apples this week. Bit it is not too far from Washington state.
Washington, the largest apple-producing state, was a major supplier to Japan before the import ban. Consequently, more apples from that state have found their way to the Midwest - which means fewer Michigan apples being sold in the region.
"The fewer apples that Washington is able to export overseas, the more that come here," Denise Yockey, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, told The Grand Rapids Press for a story Wednesday. "Michigan apples, to my knowledge, have never gone to Japan, but this whole issue is very important to Michigan growers."
The U.S. government is seeking authorization from the World Trade Organization to impose $143.4 million in trade sanctions against Japan because of the apple restrictions.
U.S. officials say the fire blight disease cannot be carried on mature, symptomless apples, which are the only types allowed for export.
A WTO trade panel agreed and, in December, ruled that the Japanese policy was illegal. The restrictions were supposed to have been lifted by June 30 but instead remain in place.
"American apple growers have been blocked from the Japanese market - that's wrong," U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said this week.
Michigan ranks third in U.S. apple production behind Washington and New York. The 2004 harvest here is expected to be down about 10 percent from last year because of bud-killing freezes and cool, wet conditions in May that hurt pollination, Yockey said.
First up for the state harvest is an early apple variety called Lodi, a medium-size yellowish-green apple.
Lodi is followed in August by popular varieties such as Jonamac and Gala. The bulk of Michigan apples are harvested in September and October.
"We began picking the Lodi on Monday," said Tom Moelker, owner of Moelker Orchards and Farm Market, about six miles west of Grand Rapids. "We have a nice crop of apples."
In addition to the reduced harvest and restrictions from Japan, Michigan growers have been hurt by an international supply that has been running ahead of demand, according to the Michigan Apple Committee.
China has flooded the market with inexpensive apples, resulting in a decline in Michigan in commercial growers and land planted with apples.
In an effort to increase the number of markets for the state's apples, the first crate of Michigan-grown apples was shipped to Mexico, capping an effort that took eight years to bear fruit.
McDonald's restaurants in April started offering Michigan-processed apple slices as an option in Happy Meals. Shelby-based Peterson Farms is a main supplier of the "Apple Dippers" offered by the nation's largest fast-food chain.
"We are working to stay competitive," Yockey said.
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On the Net:
Michigan Apple Committee: http://www.michiganapples.com/
---Associated Press:
