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ByKaliga Rice|
Apples are everywhere: in grocery stores, homes, and even used as metaphors. According to the USDA, these crunchy fruits are very versatile and can be used to create various foods or beverages, including apple butter, apple cider, and, of course, apple pie– the most popular type of pie in the U.S., per Instacart. In addition to being delicious and versatile, these fruits also contain high levels of antioxidants and fiber, meaning that they may, in fact, keep the doctor away, via Healthline.
According to SelectHealth, there are around 7,500 apple varieties throughout the world. Some of the most popular types of apples include Red Delicious, known for its mild sweetness, Gala, known for its vanilla and floral notes, and Granny Smith, known for its acidity and tartness, per SelectHealth. These fruits, regardless of the variety, are arguably one of the most important fruits in the U.S. Which state produces the most apples?
Washington produces the most apples
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According to Beef2Live, Washington produces the most apples. In 2021, this state accounted for about 69% of total U.S. apple production. New York places second in apple production, with about 14% of apples coming from this state. The states that round out the top five are Michigan, Pennsylvania, and California, with roughly 7%, 6%, and 2% of apples coming from these states, respectively.
Though Washington is the clear leader in apple production, the amount of apples it's producing is on the decline, per PickYourOwn.org. In 2018, Washington produced about 171 million bushels of apples, but in 2021, this number dropped to 154 million bushels. On the other hand, apple production in California and Virginia — the state that produces the sixth highest amount of apples — is increasing, via Beef2Live. Even with Washington's production declining, this state still grows more apples than all other states do together.
Why don't all U.S. states produce apples?
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With apples appearing in many states, it's easy to assume that every state in the U.S. commercially produces them. However, this is not the case. According to PickYourOwn.org, apple trees cannot produce a viable crop unless they experience enough cold weather during the winter months. This means that the warmer winter temperatures in many Southern states, such as Florida and Texas, are not suitable for the commercial production of apples. So, because warmer states don't have the best conditions for growing apples, only about 32 states in the U.S. participate in commercial apple production, per PickYourOwn.org.
Even though some states cannot produce commercial crops, apples can still grow anywhere in the U.S. However, growing an apple tree in a warmer state requires that you find a variety that can withstand hotter temperatures. According to PlantNative, two of the best apple trees for warmer weather include the Scarlet Sentinel Columnar apple tree, which can withstand temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Anna apple tree, which can adapt to a variety of temperatures.
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