WENATCHEE — After a record 2008 season of 109 million boxes, estimates indicate about 2 million fewer boxes were harvested this year.

Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission, said the initial estimate this year was 107 million boxes, but now he thinks the final harvest numbers, which will come out later in November, will be lower.

“The Goldens and Galas have been harvested for quite some time and they are down a little bit, and the feeling is that the rest will follow that trend,” Fryhover said.

“This will be the third or fourth largest crop,” he said.

Despite the down economy, Fryhover said domestic and export movement is good. “This year we’re optimistic that we’ll return to a profitable year for our growers.”

“The prices should hold and maybe strengthen later in the season due to good quality, sizes and excellent movement,” said Dan Kelly, assistant manager of Washington Growers Clearing House. Kelly said prices are down from the same time last year because of very good prices the year before.

Despite an early cold snap, quality of this year’s apple crop is good, noted Fryhover.

“We’ll probably have a slight reduction in volume due to that frost.” He added that apples affected by the freezing temperatures will most likely be moved through to markets quickly instead of being stored, since exposure to cold can decrease pressure of apples and cause water core.

“The weather until last night has been fantastic,” Fryhover said Tuesday.

Rochelle Feil Adamowsky: 664-7153

feil@wenatcheeworld.com