Minnesota Apple Growers Expect Bountiful Harvest

UNDATED  (AP) - It looks like a good year to be an apple lover in Minnesota.

Apple growers say they're looking forward to an exceptional harvest. It would be welcome news after the previous year, when spring temperature swings killed off many blossoms.

This year's harvest will be about two weeks late thanks to cool, rainy weather in May. But despite the late start, Minnesota's roughly 150 apple growers are expected to produce nearly 20 million pounds of fruit this year. That's up from last year, when overall production was down about 50 percent.

Growers report that this year's apples look to be large and sweet.