Total U.S. apple storage on June 1, 2026 sat at 53 million bushels, down 2% from 54 million bushels a year ago, according to a monthly USDA survey. Fresh apple holdings were more notably tight, coming in at 37 million bushels — 8% below last June's total, though still 12% above the five-year average for this date.
Storage drawdowns in late spring reflect the pace of market movement through the winter and early summer. The 8% decline in fresh holdings is the more market-relevant number, as it signals tighter near-term availability for retail and foodservice buyers who are still sourcing from storage ahead of the new domestic crop.
The California and Washington new-crop seasons will ultimately determine how smoothly the market transitions out of storage. Worth watching whether the early California table grape harvest and competing summer fruit categories affect consumer pull-through on stored apples before new-crop volume arrives.