HIRAM, MAINE – There have been a few bad apples, but New England's crop of its signature fall fruit is only slightly behind last year's.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted earlier this year the six-state region's apple production would be in line with a typical year. That prediction appears close to the target, as producers are likely to end the year about 10 percent behind the average of 3.5 million bushels, said Russell Powell, a spokesman for the Hatfield, Massachusetts-based New England Apple Association.
The New England states don't produce nearly the same volume of apples as major players such as Washington and New York, but apple season is a major tourism draw in the region. The warm, early fall weather kept some people away from pick-your-own farms, but it was still a productive year at the orchards, Powell said.
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