Washington state's apple harvest sees 29% increase due to perfect spring conditions

WASHINGTON — The apple harvest in Washington state is coming to an end, as it normally does in November. But thanks to what seemed to be a very early start to summer this year, the apple crop is almost 5% above the average production of prior years.

We are getting delicious barrels of apples at the grocery stores that have great color and are high quality, thanks to near-perfect growing conditions in the spring and early summer this year.

The 2023 spring season from March 20 to June 21 had average low temperatures at freezing and high temperatures averaging in the upper 70s for both the Yakima Valley and the Wenatchee Valley; these valleys are well-known for their ample farming, harvesting, and production of apples and pears.

Spring 2023 had well below the average precipitation amount for Wenatchee from March through June. Yakima had well above the average precipitation in March and April and then fell below the average for May and June by at least half an inch for each month.

Comparing this year's conditions to the previous year, 2022, there were much cooler average highs in the lower 60s, and minimum temperatures averaged near or below freezing.

The departure from normal for March and April average temperatures in Wenatchee were 3.2 and 2.7 degrees cooler than normal before shooting up to 6.1 degrees above normal in May.

Wenatchee had below-normal precipitation all spring.

Yakima average temperatures began 2.6 degrees above normal in March but then dropped to 5.9 degrees cooler than normal in April, continuing below normal through June. Yakima also recorded average precipitation below normal for March, but the months of April, May, and June were well above the average amount of rain and snow.

The snow that occurred while apple trees were flowering and blooming caused a steep decrease in pollination. The colder temperatures, plus snowfall continuing in spring, created a smaller crop.

This year's return to a historic normal in the number of apples is seen in growers’ reports of good sizes and quality across all varietals.

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association estimated the statewide crop of fresh apples in 40-pound boxes is 134 million. That's 29% more than in 2022, with just 104 million boxes harvested.