NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y. (WKBW) — Local farmers say their livelihood is in jeopardy as wholesale apple prices have dropped so low that it's no longer worth the cost of labor.
The U.S. Apple Association stated that in 2023, the New York State apple crop yielded only 28 million bushels, 4 million fewer than the year prior.
Just last month, LynOaken Farms told 7 News that the family business is going through a major transition due to multiple detrimental weather events and the almost complete collapse of the U.S. apple market.
"One of the issues we have is that tastes are changing so rapidly that a lot of our apples are not returning well and some apples we won't even pick this year because we can't afford the labor on that," said Wendy Oaks-Wilson, General Manager of LynOaken Farms.
LynOaken Farms in Medina is going through a major transition. You can learn more by watching the video below.
Earlier this week, a WARN notice from the State Department of Labor announced 26 layoffs coming to Mayer Brothers Apple Product's bottling facility in Barker.
But for Becker Farms in Gasport, their U-Pick model is allowing them to keep their business.
"We have insulated ourselves from the fluctuating market by having the public come and pay right away in the season. We don't store any apples. So when apple season is over it's over for us," said Melinda Vizcarra, Owner of Becker Farms.
Vizcarra says her family's 130-year-old farm can stay open until November, as long as the community helps by buying her apples.
