Apples are the largest fruit crop in Vermont, contributing $12 to $15 million to the state’s economy each year. Vermonters themselves eat about 250,000 bushels of apples per year, or about 16 to 17 pounds per person, according to a UVM study, and between 60 and 70 percent of Vermont apples are sold wholesale, with approximately 30 percent of the crop sold in Vermont.
In 1999, the Vermont Legislature designated the apple as the state fruit, and the apple pie as the state pie.
Vermont has nearly 4,000 acres of commercial apple orchards, which produce leading apple varieties, including: McIntosh, Cortland, Red Delicious and Empire.
This year many Vermont orchards have avoided weather and pests that have hurt production in previous years, Steve Justis, executive director of the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association explained. Specifically, the past couple of years cold weather has caused damage leading into the season, he said.
Vermont apple prices depend largely on the state of Washington, which accounts for more than 50 percent of the country’s total apple production, followed by New York state, which accounts for nearly 10 percent. Vermont shares the rest of the market with 29 other apple producing states.
This year Washington orchards are predicting a drop in numbers this year because of heat damage. “Early indications are that they’re going to have a 10 percent short-crop,” said Justis. “That is good news for the Vermont apple growers.”
The New York Apple Association is also forecasting their 2015 apple crop to be slightly below their five year average of 29.5 million bushels. However, association leaders say it won’t affect the overall outlook.
