Yields from the ongoing U.S. apple harvest are proving robust in the states of Michigan (MI) and New York (NY).
Both states rank among the top 3 apple-producing regions of the United States after Washington, hence the importance of their seasonal crop.
Apples in the Big Apple
New York is already seeing orchards offering “you-pick” services, especially in the cool northern region.
Some remaining orchards will open their doors on September 7, while others project a September 15 to 30 picking timings.
New Yorkers in Plattsburgh around the Adirondak coast began their harvest campaign on the Labor Day weekend, September 1.
The Adirondak area around Lake Champlain is important as it ranks second nationally in production outside the Pacific Northwest.
Its harvest peak is mid-September through early October when most fruits will have reached top flavor and maturity.
Plattsburgh’s keynote farm, Banker Orchards, told local station NBC5 on September 3 that their orchard remains accessible till December 23.
Michigan to Top Its Annual Production
Michigan, situated in the Great Lakes northern U.S. region projects to harvest 1.281 billion pounds in 2024. If this happens, the output will be 281,000 pounds more than in 2023, whose season then had begun July.
The state’s apple campaign began on Labor Day and will continue till early November to coincide with Halloween.
Michiganders like to pick their fruits and bake them into donuts or produce cider, among other fall treats.
Their favorite cultivars all grow here and include the Paula Red cultivar which espouses a tart taste and mild aroma. There are also the traditional favorites like galas, in season since August 20 and Honeycrisp, in season since August 22. Others include McIntoshes, whose harvest started Labor Day and Golden Delicious, ready by September 9.
Cripps pink with its subtle mix of tartness and sweetness wraps up the U.S. apple harvest maturity timing in MI around October 18.
During this time, 852 family orchards covering 35,500 acres produce the yearly output of 1 billion pounds of fruit.
In summation, time is now for New Yorkers and Michiganders who always anticipate the U.S. apple harvest each August through December. And as the statistics below show, it is not just these two northeastern states lead apple production.
U.S. Apple Statistics
The United States is one of the major apple-producing nations in the world, with a production total of 4,300,000 tonnes in 2023. Only China at 44,500,000 tonnes, the European Union at 12,683,000 tonnes and Türkiye at 4,968,000 tonnes produced more. Like in 2023, 2022’s production at 4,429,330 tonnes was a slight decrease from the 2021 peak of 4,5505,310 tonnes, according to FAOSTAT. Acreage in its part stagnated between 2021 and 2022 from 116,874 hectares to 116,753 hectares. So have the major producers, namely Washington, New York and Michigan maintained their lead over the years since 2009.
What was the total apple production in Washington (WA), New York (NY) and Michigan (MI) in 2009?
2009 data by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that WA, MI and NY produced 5.4 billion (2.45 million tonnes), 1 billion and 1 billion (454,545 tonnes) respectively. In Washington’s case, the production lead has extended from as early as the 1920s. Other major producers in descending order in 2009 included Pennsylvania, California, Virginia and Oregon.
What was the total apple production in the top producing states in 2023?
Like in 2009, the states of Washington, New York and Michigan still led national apple output in 2023. WA reaped 6.7 billion pounds (3.04 million tonnes), while NY and MI each bagged 1.1 billion pounds. Following suit were Pennsylvania at 440 million pounds (200,000 tonnes) and California at 200 million pounds (90,909 tonnes).
What is the Yearly Sales value of Washington’s New York’s and Michigan’s apples?
In 2021, apple production led Washington state’s agricultural turnover at $2.19 billion, according to USDA. New York, in its part, earned $345 million from its apples in 2022, per NASS-USDA data. Michigan amasses a profit turnover of $900 million from its apple value chain, according to Click on Detroit, quoting Michigan Grown.
What is the export rank of the U.S. in apple exports?
The United States ranked third worldwide in 2023 for apple exports worth $931.2 million. Only Italy at $995.2 million and China at $970.4 million shipped more value.