The U.S. apple production has been steadily growing over the last 75 years, and the projections indicate an upward trend increasing by 7.6% by 2026. From 2007 to 2021, the number of apple-bearing acres in the U.S. fell by around 17% but at the same time, production increased by more than 8%. Most of these gains are due to significant reinvestments to develop higher density orchards. (Source: US Apple Industry Outlook 2022)
USDA forecasted the total 2022 apple crop to be 3% higher than 2021 crop. With the new information collected at the USApple Conference in mid-August, however, the current crop is expected to be 2% shorter than last year’s. The main driver for the drastic change in direction is the crop in Washington State, which was expected to be 3% below last year’s, but now, is forecasted to be 11% smaller than 2021.
Washington State’s crop is 60%-65% of the total U.S. crop, so volume variances have a significant impact on U.S. total production.
Washington State is followed by New York with 32.3M bushels (+1.3% from 2021), Michigan with 26.2M bushels (+89% from last year’s terrible crop), “other” states with 13.9M (flat), Pennsylvania with 11M (-17% from 2021), and then California, Virginia, and Oregon.
| USDA 2022/23 Forecast | 2022/23 USApple | 2021/22 | 5-Yr. Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 255.0 | 244.2 | 248.3 | 264.0 |
| Washington | 154.8 | 143.0 | 161.0 | 169.0 |
| New York | 34.5 | 32.3 | 31.9 | 32.3 |
| Michigan | 26.2 | 29.5 | 15.6 | 22.1 |
| Pennsylvania | 11.0 | 11.0 | 13.3 | 11.9 |
| California | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 5.6 |
| Virginia | 4.4 | 4.9 | 3.9 | 4.5 |
| Oregon | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| Other | 14.2 | 13.9 | 13.9 | 14.7 |
Apple Varieties:
| By Variety | WA | By Variety | US | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gala | 20% | Gala | 18.1% | |
| Red Delicious | 15% | Red Delicious | 13.6% | |
| Honeycrisp | 14% | Fuji | 10.2% | |
| Granny Smith | 13% | Honeycrisp | 10% | |
| Fuji | 13% | Granny Smith | 9% | |
| Pink Lady/Cripps Pink | 6% | Golden Delicious | 7% | |
| Cosmic Crisp | 5% | Pink Lady/Cripps Pink | 4% | |
| Golden Delicious | 4% | Rome | 4% | |
| Ambrosia | 2% | Cosmic Crisp | 3% | |
| Braeburn | 0% | Idared | 3% | |
| Others | 9% | Others | 10% |
A quick mention about the Cosmic Crisp variety:
Meanwhile, organic apples maintain their importance in the market. Their premium to the packing houses is 16% over conventional apples. U.S. retail median price for conventional apples is $1.35/lb, for organic the price is $2.12/lb, a difference of $0.77/lb. or 57%. There is significant interest in increasing production of organic apples.
Apples, both organic and conventional, are part of FruitSmart’s core business; contact us today for your apple needs, especially cold pressed NFC, apple juice.
