May 25 2007, 10:10 AgVANTAGE

Apple production in Georgia will triple in 2007 - forecast by AgVATNAGE

This year main varieties of apples (Aidared, Golden Delicious, Champaign Rennet, Danana, Kekhura) blossomed in Shida Kartli 2-weeks later than usual due to moderately-cool and cloudy weather in April. Phenological stage of blossoming initiation was observed in 9-10 May. Apples blossomed plentifully and intensively in favorable climatic conditions: there were no late spring frosts and lengthy precipitations. This leads us to forecast rich harvest of apples. In 2007 the harvest of "Georgian Sinap" is predicted to be comparatively smaller than earlier.

It is noteworthy that due to the last year bad harvest, lots of flower buds appeared in gardens. Supposedly, this year harvest will exceed the average level with 80000-90000 tons, increasing more than threefold from last year. Thus, in 2007 price of apples will fall considerably returning to average levels of wholesale prices - 0,5-0,6 GEL. The quality of apples is expected to be comparatively worse due to the overburdened harvest so that apple-concentrates producing companies will be supplied by sufficient stocks.