From the orchards of Rhode Island to the scenic ones of Peru in New York, the northeast is tailing off its apple picking with a bang. This is even as Georgia rallies the southern U.S. harvest with “you pick” offers.
The east coast is trying to beat the odds and finish its harvest before the November chill impacts quality.
Radio 10 WJAR reported on October 27, 2024 that southern New England farmers have had a successful season without 2023’s apple scab scare.
Despite intense rain that kicked off Rhode Island (RI)’s 2024 season, the fruit size here is optimal and the quality superb. Thankfully, 2024 did not have a repeat of a late spring freeze in May 2023 that impacted over 40% of apples in RI.
The northeast United States now looks forward to finishing the main harvest before November when temperatures drop to 23ºF.
Apple Picking in Peach State
Further south in Georgia, families are filling in the time when they are not making pumpkin spice patches by picking apples.
On top of this, pickers can enjoy a fruity experience during the Georgia Apple Festival at Ellijay. The mountainside town in the northern part of the Peach State is a popular apple picking destination.
Notable farms with “you pick” services include Red Apple Barn at the heart of Ellijay and Hillcrest Orchards, among others.
New York’s “Tall” Harvest
Meanwhile in Peru, located in upstate New York, expert Jamaican workers are helping bring down apples from up high in trees.
Much of the harvest is taking place in the rich Champlain orchards in the Adirondack Park neighborhood.
By offering $17.80 per hour in wages, New York attracts Jamaicans who travel to pick apples in North America.
Indeed, 15% of all the agricultural workers in NY are temporary immigrants under the H-2A visa program.
So, from Rhode Island via New York to Georgia, the fall apple picking season is tailing off gloriously. And as the next data reveals, the 2024 harvest is all about trying to match 2023’s challenging yet record production.
United States Apple Production Statistics
The apple harvest in the United States is concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, the northeast and the north. Washington State led production on behalf of the Pacific Northwest in 2023 at 6.7 billion pounds (148.8 million bushels equivalent). New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan buoyed northeast’s run with a cumulative over 2.6 billion pounds (57.8 million bushels equivalent).
How much apples will the U.S. harvest in the 2024-25 season?
According USApple, based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s estimates, total production in the 2024-25 season will hit 259,517,252 bushels. This will mark a decrease by 10.1% from the 2023 official production of around 286,000,000 bushels.
Which variety commands market value?
Galas finished first in the 2023-24 season and will in the 2024-25 harvest harness 48 million bushels or 17% of production. Red Delicious will emerge second with 12.3% while Granny Smith third with 10%.
What is the historical production of apples in New York in Pounds?
According to the National Statistics Service (NASS), New York produced 1.22 billion pounds (27,168,888 bushels equivalent) of apples in 2023. This was the second highest in a decade after 2022’s 1.47 billion pounds (32,657,777 bushels equivalent).