A larger and more diverse fresh apple crop is forecast for 2023. 

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association estimated this year’s crop at just over 134 million standard 40-pound boxes of fresh apples, a 28.8% increase from 2022’s 104.3 million boxes. 

The association’s forecast also shows a continued trend of varietal diversification, with Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Envy and Cosmic Crisp representing more than a quarter of forecast production. 

Cosmic Crisp, a proprietary varietal grown only in Washington state, continues to grow in its share of the total crop, making up about 6% of the forecast harvest. 

“There is a lot of excitement as we are seeing a more normal harvest and excellent fruit quality this year,” said Jon DeVaney, WSTFA president, in a news release. “A moderate spring and a warm early summer created near-perfect growing conditions, so our domestic and foreign customers are going to see great size, color and overall good quality in our apples.” 

Washington apples are vital to the state’s economy and its leading agricultural commodity by production value. Apples represented 21% of the state’s total agricultural value in 2021. Twenty percent of last year’s harvest was exported, down from the five-year average of 28% due to lower overall production in 2022. 

“It’s great for the state and for consumers around that world that our growers have rebounded from a down year with a strong, healthy crop in 2023,” said Derek Sandison, director of the state Department of Agriculture, in a release. “More importantly, thanks to moderate weather the quality of apples is exceptionally high. Apples are Washington state’s calling card to every corner of the globe. This year, we are literally putting our best crop forward and that’s good for our state economy, our workforce and our growers.” 

Apple harvest typically begins in August and continues into November, and as a result, the association noted that its forecast is subject to several months of variable weather which can affect final harvest total.