Ohio apple crop shrunken and sweet

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A fruit-tree expert says that while this year's extreme weather has reduced the size of Ohio's apple crop, the remaining fruit will be tastier.

Diane Miller, an Ohio State Extension fruit-tree specialist, says spring frosts, summer drought, extreme heat, high winds and hailstorms reduced the crop considerably.

Ohio State says growers were hit hard by the combination of an early spring and a late freeze.

Bill Dodd, president of the Ohio Fruit Growers Marketing Association, says apple production in Ohio is expected to be down 46 percent this year.

Miller says remaining apples were aided by hot temperatures in August, which helped sweeten the fruit that was left.