State agriculture officials say severe weather this year hasn't hurt Virginia's apple crop.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said Wednesday that growers in major apple-growing areas expect a normal harvest this year, although it will be slightly off the five-year average in volume.

Hurricane Irene caused minimal damage to apple trees.

Harvesting of earlier varieties was interrupted or delayed by Tropical Storm Lee's rains.

But the department says varieties harvested later should be larger due to the additional moisture.

There are more than 150 commercial apple growers in Virginia.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)