Washington apple crop projected to be larger than 2019

SPOKANE — This year’s Washington state apple crop is expected to be slightly larger than the 2019 crop.

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association estimates the 2020 crop will total 134 million standard forty-pound boxes of fresh apples. That’s just above 2019’s total of 133.9 million boxes.

Harvest is just getting underway in the nation’s top apple producing state, and will continue into November.

For the second straight year, Gala will be the most numerous variety at 23%. Red Delicious is projected at 17%, followed by Fuji at 14%, and Granny Smith and Honeycrisp at 13% of total production.

This year, the new Cosmic Crisp is forecast to come in at 1.2% of the total crop.

The association says organic apple production is forecast to be 16% of the total, or 21 million boxes.

The forecast is based on a survey of association members, and represents a best estimate of the total volume of apples that will eventually be packed and sold on the fresh market.