With drought causing problems across much of the country, Washington is proving to be the exception.
"It looks like we'll be the beneficiaries of our friends' misfortune," said Dale Foreman, an eastern Washington attorney and fruit grower said.
Washington is the nation's leading apple producer and had its fourth-largest crop in 2011.
"All indications are that we'll have the largest crop ever," said Todd Flyhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission. "The only downside is that we're worried that we may not have enough legal workers to get it all picked."
Prices are likely to be high as the other top apple growing states - Michigan and New York - have been affected by drought and the apples are likely to be in short supply.
West Mathison, president of Wenatchee's Stemilt Growers, a family-owner fruit grower, packer and shipper, said he's going to wait until the harvest before he's satisfied that this year will bring a record crop. There has been weather damage in recent weeks, from hailstorms, and the final toll is not yet known.
"I think the market will determine the prices," he said.
