Bananas, avocados, oranges, pineapples, and grapes are just some of the different types of fruit grown in America. However, none of them are as popular as the trusty apple. According to USDA, apples are the most consumed fruit in the United States.
On average, each person in America consumes approximately 25 lbs of apples every year. Those apples come from many sources including whole apples, frozen apples, apple juice, and dried apples.
With so many apples consumed across America, where are they all coming from? Today, I’m going to tell you exactly where your apples come from! In this post, I’m going to show you which state produces the most apples (spoiler alert, it’s Washington).
I’ll also tell you how many apples the state produces and about the best apples we can choose. Let’s dive straight into the world of apples!
Which U.S. State Produces The Most Apples?
Let’s get straight into it by looking at which state produces the most apples in America. Incredibly, one state is responsible for providing more than half of the apples in the whole of the United States. That State is Washington.
In recent years, it is reported that almost 45% of processed apples and 75% of fresh apples that Americans enjoyed were grown in Washington.
Some of the most important varieties of apples grown in Washington include Gala, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith.
How Many Apples Does Washington Produce?
So, just how many apples do they produce in Washington? The number of apples produced in Washington is staggering. A USApple report in 2022 released data that showed the true extent of apple production in the state.
In 2022, it was estimated that Washington produced 155 million bushels. For context, one bushel usually contains approximately 125 medium-sized apples. This total apple production was believed to be worth $2 billion.
While the total figure is unknown, it is estimated that 10 to 12 billion apples are harvested in Washington every year.
What makes things even more staggering is that all the apples harvested are picked by hand. I don’t know about you but that sounds like a lot of apples to pick!
Why Are So Many Apples Grown In Washington?
Washington produces so many apples every year simply because the state is perfect for doing so. Washington’s fertile spill, ideal climate, and abundant water resources make it the perfect place to cultivate apples.
Interestingly, there are more than 1,260 different apple growers in Washington. Most orchards are tended by the families of growers that planted the first apple trees more than 100 years ago.
Other States That Produce A Lot Of Apples
Other states that produce large volumes of apples include New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. However, none of them produces anywhere near the same amount of apples as Washington.
In fact, New York, which sits in second place, produces almost six times less apples than Washington. Michigan sits in third place producing roughly 1 billion pounds of apples every year. This quantity of apples has a value above $250 million.
How Does America Compare On A Global Scale?
According to a recent Statista study, America is the fourth biggest producer of apples in the world. However, other sources believe America sits second behind China.
It is worth noting that one of the biggest producers of apples in the world is the European Union, producing more than 12,000 metric tons of apples a year. However, if you broke the EU down into each country, America would dwarf every one of them.
Therefore, it can be argued that America is the third biggest producer of apples in the world. Ahead of America are Turkey and China. Impressively, China produces almost 10 times the number of apples than America and Turkey.
The Best Apples Grown In Washington
Now you know more about how many apples are produced in America and that Washington grows the most, let’s take a closer look at some of the apples grown. Washington is home to over 30 types of apples that range in texture, color, and flavor.
All the apples in Washington have things in common, but they also have their differences. One thing you can expect is a nutritious, juicy, and delicious apple. Here are some of the best!
Gala
The gala apple is easily one of the most popular and tastiest types of apples produced in America. They have a perfectly sweet flavor, vibrant color, and a delightful hint of vanilla. We can consume this apple as a snack, beverage, and sauce, or we can use it in baking.
Red Delicious
A well-known favorite across America, the red delicious apple is exactly as its name suggests, delicious. Bright red, this apple has a sweet flavor and a divine crunchy texture. Like the gala apple, it can be used in baking or consumed as a snack, beverage, or sauce.
Honeycrisp
Another seriously popular apple grown in Washington is the Honeycrisp apple. Unsurprisingly famous for its crispness, this apple is also known for its versatility.
You can do almost anything you want with it. Having said that, it is most commonly eaten as a snack or used to bring more flavor to savory recipes.
Granny Smith
Tart apple lovers probably already know a thing or two about this green delight. Beyond the iconic green skin, this apple has a beautiful lemon-like tartness to it. This tartness is brilliantly balanced out by the perfect amount of sweetness.
Final Thoughts
That concludes this post looking at what state produces the most apples. Now you’ve made your way through all the information I provided, you should know a lot more about the apple industry in America.
Washington is the biggest producer of apples in America and things don’t look like changing too much anytime soon. With that being said, why don’t you try one of the apple varieties from Washington and see what you think?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Washington’s Most Famous Apple?
The most famous apple in Washington is the red delicious Apple. Almost 50% of the apples that leave Washington for other countries are red delicious apples.
Does Washington Grow Any Other Fruits?
Apples aren’t the only fruit produced in Washington. Large volumes of apples, pears, and cherries are also grown in Washington.
Hello, my name is Valentina and I am the founder or ‘grower’ as I like to call myself of BonitaFruitTrees.com.
Cultivating my own fruit trees is definitely my passion, and has been for such a long time.
That’s what made me want to make this website. I wanted to create a place where I could share my experiences with others, teach more people how to grow fruit trees, and just help them have a little fun with it.
