Stat of the Week: One in four U.S. fresh market apples is exported

Apple-picking season is upon us, and many U.S. apples are staying right here for families to enjoy.

But the U.S is also the third-largest exporter of apples on the global market.

About one in four U.S. fresh-market apples have been exported since the mid-2000s, according to the USDA.

“The exported portion of utilized production has ranged from 20% to 30% annually, representing steady international demand for fresh U.S. apples,” according to the USDA Charts of Note.

Chart courtesy of USDA Charts of Note

“Washington State is the largest apple-producing state, and the crop is forecast to be 7.4 billion pounds,” according to the USDA Economic Research Service September 2026 Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook. “Over the previous five seasons, Washington’s share of U.S. fresh market apple production ranged from 71% to 80%. This large share means that changes in Washington’s apple production has an outsized influence on U.S. fresh apple domestic availability, average prices and exports, relative to other apple-producing states.”

The top five apple varieties in Washington are Gala, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp and Cosmic Crisp.

Apple trees are not usually a top-performing crop or even in production at most wholesale nurseries, but Forest Keeling Nursery, located in Missouri, has found success growing edibles for nonprofits and not-for-profits.

The nursery grows apple trees and several other specialty crops, like persimmons, pawpaws, chestnuts, walnuts, pecans and elderberry trees. Forrest Keeling Nursery supplies The Giving Grove and Seed St. Louis with low-maintenance edibles to support community orchards and increase sources of affordable fresh foods.

Read more about Forest Keeling Nursery’s edible production here.