Input sought on changing Red Delicious grade
Most warehouses pack three grades
of Washington Extra Fancy Red Delicious.
By Geraldine Warner
Washington State industry groups are being asked to comment on the idea of raising the minimum color requirement for Washington Extra Fancy Red Delicious from 66% good red color to 75 or 80%.
"From a marketing standpoint, there's too wide of a range for what's designated Washington Extra Fancy Reds," John Borton of Yakima said at a meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Association's Grade and Pack Committee in August.
Most shippers pack three grades within that 66 to 100% color range, he said. They usually pack a Premium, a Washington Extra Fancy (WXF), and a WXF No. 2.
"I don't disagree there's a home for three different grades within that area, but what happens on our sales reporting is it gets lumped all together as Washington Extra Fancy.
True value
This makes it difficult for marketers to establish the true value of the apples when buyers say they've been offered a certain price elsewhere.
"We would be much better served if we knew what they were actually quoting that price on," he said. "I think we need to classify these categories in a better fashion. I think we would be helped from a marketing standpoint."
At the very least, shippers need to report their sales with a breakout for each WXF grade, so the industry knows what the range is for a premium or a third grade WXF, he said.
Borton said that in private conversations, industry people say it makes sense to raise the minimum color requirement, but no one does anything about it.
"It's a big problem we continue to ignore," he added. "We keep turning our head."
Dave Reed, manager of the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association, said his association and the Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association have encouraged shippers to report their WXF sales separately, but it's been difficult because shippers don't see the value of the reports. They say it is historical information. Some don't have the capability to differentiate between the different grades of WXF.
Grade and Pack committee cochair Dick Clements said marketers may be leaving money on the table, but that is not a Grade and Pack issue.
Borton proposed that the minimum color be raised to 75 or 80%, which he said would eliminate the need for a WXF No. 2. Packers could still pack a grade with 66 to 75 or 80% good red color, but it would be called something else, such as Washington Choice.
When his motion drew no support, Borton chastised the committee members. "You're going to walk away from it again!" he said.
WXF Premium
Bill Zirkle of Zirkle Fruit Company, Selah, said it could be addressed by creating a Washington Extra Fancy Premium grade with 90 or 95% to full color. Ron Skagen of Wells & Wade Fruit Company, Wenatchee, said he was concerned that if a premium grade was created, that's all that the major retailers would buy.
Clements suggested the committee seek input from the Washington Growers Clearing House Association as well as both traffic associations, on either creating a new premium grade, or raising the minimum color for WXF.
"We've talked about these same issues for the last ten years," commented Rob Valicoff of Wapato, who urged the committee to set a deadline for the comments so action can be taken at the next Grade and Pack Committee meeting in November.
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