Total U.S. apple storage on July 1, 2026 came in at 37 million bushels — 6% below the 39 million bushels held at the same point last year, according to a monthly USDA survey. Fresh apple holdings were down even more sharply, at 26 million bushels, representing an 11% decline year-over-year.

Storage drawdowns of this magnitude heading into the new crop transition period are worth flagging. Tighter carry-in inventory means there's less of a buffer between the end of the old crop and the arrival of new-season fruit — a dynamic that can pressure pricing and availability in August if the new harvest is delayed or uneven. This comes on top of already-documented frost damage across multiple apple-growing states earlier this year.

Buyers sourcing new-crop apples should watch harvest timing closely. If fresh storage stays 11% below last year as domestic supply transitions, even modest delays in Washington or other key production regions could create a near-term gap worth planning around.