The 2024 apple season in Washington might experience a normalization following the significant fluctuations of the past two years, contingent upon favorable weather conditions. The 2023 harvest yielded 137 million bushels, marking it as the state's second-largest, a 32% increase from the prior year. This followed a notably smaller crop of 104 million bushels.
The upcoming 2024 harvest is anticipated to slightly decrease, with early estimates suggesting a yield between 120 million to 125 million bushels. Spring blossoms have already escaped frost damage, with high temperatures posing the primary risk to fruit quality. Washington, which accounts for approximately two-thirds of the U.S. apple production, exports about 30% of its apples globally, with Mexico and Canada being primary markets. The state has seen an expansion in exports to India following a tariff reduction, from 62,000 bushels in 2022 to over 2 million in 2023. Despite various international tariffs, new varieties like the Cosmic Crisp, exclusively grown in Washington, are finding success in foreign markets. The introduction of new apple varieties continues, with WA 64 set to enter the market in the coming years, following a public naming contest. These developments underscore the dynamic nature of the apple industry in Washington, amidst challenges such as labor costs and the anticipation of new market opportunities.
Source: tricitiesbusinessnews.com