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New Jersey · crop watch

New Jersey apple crop

USDA last rated the 2022 New Jersey apple crop for the week ending Sep 11, when 100% was good or excellent, 62 points above the five-year average of 38%, versus 25% at this point last year. Harvest stood at 100% complete. USDA's August forecast puts the 2018 crop at 49.2 million lb, up 27.8% from last year's final of 38.5.

Last rated week ending Sep 11, 2022

Good to excellent · last reading

100%of the crop

62 points above the five-year average for this week, and 25% a year ago.

–

100%

Harvested

As of Sep 11.

▲

49.2

million lb, 2018 forecast

+27.8% against last year's final crop.

Analysis

Week ending Sep 27

New Jersey apple crop condition falls to zero

For the week ending September 27, 2026, New Jersey rated no apples in the good or excellent categories, unchanged from the prior week but far below the 75% good-to-excellent share reported the same week last year. Ninety percent of the crop was scored poor or very poor, with only 10% rated fair. Harvest reached 50% complete, trailing last year's 58% pace at this point. The season has now carried 14 weeks of condition ratings. Watch USDA's next weekly report for whether harvest catches up before the window closes.

Written from USDA data and source reports

Weekly ratings

Crop condition, 2022

Bars are the full USDA rating split each week. The dashed line is the five-year average for good plus excellent; the dotted line is last year.

2026202520242023202220212020
New Jersey apple crop condition, 20220%25%50%75%100%Week ending Jul 10: Very poor 0%, Poor 0%, Fair 0%, Good 100%, Excellent 0% — good+excellent 100% (5-yr avg 37%, last year 25%)Week ending Aug 21: Very poor 0%, Poor 0%, Fair 50%, Good 50%, Excellent 0% — good+excellent 50% (5-yr avg 36%, last year 25%)Week ending Aug 28: Very poor 0%, Poor 0%, Fair 50%, Good 50%, Excellent 0% — good+excellent 50% (5-yr avg 36%, last year 25%)Week ending Sep 4: Very poor 0%, Poor 0%, Fair 73%, Good 27%, Excellent 0% — good+excellent 27% (5-yr avg 39%, last year 25%)Week ending Sep 11: Very poor 0%, Poor 0%, Fair 0%, Good 100%, Excellent 0% — good+excellent 100% (5-yr avg 38%, last year 25%)USDA forecast — week ending Aug 21USDA forecast−50 pts — week ending Aug 21−50 ptsHarvest begins — week ending Sep 4Harvest beginsJul 10Aug 21Aug 28Sep 4Sep 11
Very poorPoorFairGoodExcellent5-yr avg good+excellentLast year

Latest: 100% good or excellent, week ending Sep 11. Hover a bar for the full breakdown.

Field progress

Green tip, 2022

This season against the five-year average pace and last year.

New Jersey apple green tip, 20220%50%100%Green tip, week ending Apr 3: 0% (5-yr avg —, last year —)Green tip, week ending Apr 10: 0% (5-yr avg —, last year —)Green tip, week ending Apr 17: 0% (5-yr avg —, last year —)Green tip, week ending Apr 24: 100% (5-yr avg 50%, last year 0%)Green tip, week ending May 1: 100% (5-yr avg 55%, last year 0%)Apr 3Apr 10Apr 17Apr 24May 1
This year5-yr avgLast year

Green tip: 100% as of May 1 (5-yr avg 55%).

Field progress

Pink, 2022

This season against the five-year average pace and last year.

New Jersey apple pink, 20220%50%100%Pink, week ending May 1: 26% (5-yr avg 26%, last year 0%)Pink, week ending May 8: 50% (5-yr avg 46%, last year 0%)Pink, week ending May 15: 95% (5-yr avg 55%, last year 0%)May 1May 8May 15
This year5-yr avgLast year

Pink: 95% as of May 15 (5-yr avg 55%).

Field progress

Full bloom, 2022

This season against the five-year average pace and last year.

New Jersey apple full bloom, 20220%50%100%Full bloom, week ending May 8: 30% (5-yr avg —, last year 0%)Full bloom, week ending May 15: 75% (5-yr avg 22%, last year 0%)Full bloom, week ending May 22: 100% (5-yr avg 39%, last year 0%)May 8May 15May 22
This year5-yr avgLast year

Full bloom: 100% as of May 22 (5-yr avg 39%).

Field progress

Petal fall, 2022

This season against the five-year average pace and last year.

New Jersey apple petal fall, 20220%50%100%Petal fall, week ending May 15: 40% (5-yr avg —, last year —)Petal fall, week ending May 22: 85% (5-yr avg —, last year 0%)Petal fall, week ending May 29: 95% (5-yr avg —, last year 0%)May 15May 22May 29
This year5-yr avgLast year

Petal fall: 95% as of May 29.

Field progress

Fruit set, 2022

This season against the five-year average pace and last year.

New Jersey apple fruit set, 20220%50%100%Fruit set, week ending May 22: 5% (5-yr avg —, last year —)Fruit set, week ending May 29: 35% (5-yr avg —, last year 0%)Fruit set, week ending Jun 5: 50% (5-yr avg —, last year 2%)Fruit set, week ending Jun 12: 75% (5-yr avg —, last year 2%)Fruit set, week ending Jun 19: 80% (5-yr avg —, last year 39%)Fruit set, week ending Jun 26: 85% (5-yr avg —, last year 62%)Fruit set, week ending Jul 3: 95% (5-yr avg —, last year 82%)May 22May 29Jun 5Jun 12Jun 19Jun 26Jul 3
This year5-yr avgLast year

Fruit set: 95% as of Jul 3.

Field progress

Harvested, 2022

This season against the five-year average pace and last year.

New Jersey apple harvested, 20220%50%100%Harvested, week ending Sep 4: 47% (5-yr avg —, last year 0%)Harvested, week ending Sep 11: 100% (5-yr avg —, last year 0%)Sep 4Sep 11
This year5-yr avgLast year

Harvested: 100% as of Sep 11.

Forecast record

How the forecast moved to final

Each season's first USDA forecast against the final estimate, with the revision between them.

New Jersey apple crop: USDA first forecast vs final0204060million lb2010: no forecast · final 43.0 million lb20102011: no forecast · final 36.0 million lb20112012: no forecast · final 35.0 million lb20122013: no forecast · final 29.0 million lb20132014: no forecast · final 37.0 million lb20142015: no forecast · final 41.7 million lb20152016: no forecast · final 31.9 million lb20162017: no forecast · final 38.5 million lb20172018: Aug forecast 49.2 million lb · final pending2018
First forecastFinalFinal pending
Crop yearFirst forecast (million lb)FinalRevisionCrop valueShare of US
201849.2 Augustpending———
2017—38.5—$35M0.3%
2016—31.9—$34M0.3%
2015—41.7—$36M0.4%
2014—37.0—$30M0.3%
2013—29.0—$13M0.3%
2012—35.0—$29M0.4%
2011—36.0—$24M0.4%
2010—43.0—$20M0.5%

Revision is how far the final estimate moved from the season's first forecast — the practical measure of how much weight to give an early number.

Utilization

Where the crop went

Fresh market against processing and unsold volume, by crop year.

New Jersey apple crop: fresh market vs processing0204060million lb2010: fresh 30.0, processing 12.0, not sold 0.0 million lb — 71% fresh20102011: fresh 25.0, processing 10.0, not sold 0.0 million lb — 71% fresh20112012: fresh 24.0, processing 10.0, not sold 0.0 million lb — 71% fresh20122013: fresh 19.0, processing 9.5, not sold 0.5 million lb — 66% fresh20132014: fresh 26.0, processing 10.0, not sold 0.5 million lb — 71% fresh20142015: fresh 30.0, processing 11.0, not sold 0.7 million lb — 72% fresh20152016: fresh 25.0, processing 6.0, not sold 0.9 million lb — 78% fresh20162017: fresh 28.0, processing 9.0, not sold 1.5 million lb — 73% fresh2017
Fresh marketProcessingNot sold

Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress (weekly, April–November) and Crop Production reports. This product uses the NASS API but is not endorsed or certified by NASS.

Updated September 29, 2026

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