Honeycrisp supply crunch could end soon

Weather-related setbacks have pushed Honeycrisp apple inventories down, and prices up. Consumer demand for the variety, which continues to gain popularity, is now soaring close to $4 per 2.2 pounds. However, according to Stemilt Growers Marketing Director Brianna Shales, this issue isn’t necessarily an unexpected one.

“This (the supply crunch) isn’t as recent as it may seem because the 2024 Honeycrisp crop was down considerably from the large 2023 Honeycrisp crop," she noted. The company has adapted by shifting promotional focus to other apple varietals during the summer months to manage lower inventory levels.

Other than the reduced crop volume, factors driving current shortages and price increases also include lower packouts of late-storing fruit, Shales told FreshFruitPortal.com. 

“It’s a combination of having less supply in this crop and lower packouts in late storing fruit. With less supply available nationally, this drives the price up because demand remains strong,” she said.

To manage customer expectations amid these supply constraints, Shales said that Stemilt is currently focusing on clear communication and strategic negotiations with retailers and consumers. “Communication is key, and we’ve had to manage through remaining supplies to meet customer commitments as best as we can,” she stated.

Despite higher retail prices, consumer loyalty to Honeycrisp remains strong. “Consumers are still willing to purchase Honeycrisp apples despite the increase in retail price per pound over last year. This points to the loyalty people have for Honeycrisp,” Shales added. 

Additionally, the Cosmic Crisp variety continues to gain popularity, making “incredible gains”, Shales said, and becoming a top-selling apple for the season.

Looking ahead, Stemilt remains optimistic about the 2025 crop. Shales indicated that the outlook is positive, with harvests just weeks away. 

“The outlook on the 2025 crop of Honeycrisp looks stronger from a volume standpoint at this point,” she added. “We expect a nice transition to new crop apples, including Honeycrisp, in August.”

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