Which US State Produces The Most Apples?
Of all the fruits consumed in the U.S., the apple, according to the USDA, is the most popular. On average, each person in the U.S. consumed just over 25 pounds of apples in 2019, and those apples came in various forms, from fresh to dried to frozen to juice. Apples are big business, too, according to USApple, which predicts that the 2021/2022 apple harvest will total more than 11.1 billion pounds and have a value of more than $3.2 billion.
AgHires tells us that apples are actually grown in all 50 states, but only 36 states grow the fruit commercially. The U.S. is the second largest producer of apples worldwide, second only to China. More than 2500 varieties of apples are cultivated in the U.S. alone. According to PickYourOwn, apples are picked in the U.S. as early as July in some areas and as late as November in others. The peak of the apple season is September and October, but because apples store so well, you can find fresh apples for sale that may be a year old.
One state provides more than half the apples in the U.S.
According to data from USApple, nearly 75% of fresh apples and 45% of processed apples that the country is expected to produce in the 2021/2022 harvest year will come from Washington. Other states that are big apple producers include New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Virginia, and Oregon.
Washington Apple reports that each year, roughly 10 to 12 billion apples are harvested, all by hand to prevent bruising for Washington's largest agricultural crop. The Northwest Horticultural Council tracks apple production for the states of Washington and Oregon, and they report that the most important varieties of apple in terms of production are Gala, Red Delicious, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith, which all together represented nearly 80% of the 2020/21 harvest.
If you happen to find yourself with an apple surplus, try out this decadent and gorgeous recipe for cinnamon apple roses.