CHICAGO — The U.S. Apple Association estimate for the 2019 apple crop is forecast at 247.76 million (42-pound) cartons, 2.2% less than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s August estimate of 253.09 million cartons.

The U.S. Apple 2019 estimate, which includes fruit for the fresh and processing markets, was up 1% from the 2018 crop but down 1% from the five-year average.

The association presented its estimate Aug. 23 at its annual Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference.

Compared with the USDA numbers, the U.S. Apple estimate shows lower expected output in Washington, slightly higher production in New York and nearly the same estimate for Michigan.

Here are US Apple estimates and the change compared with the USDA’s August 2019 estimates: