They may be crisp, sweet or tart. Red, green or golden. But they’re always delicious.

Apples are Washington’s top crop, making up an estimated 20 percent of the value of all agricultural production in the state.

They’re also one of the top refrigerated commodities that moves through The Northwest Seaport Alliance harbors in Seattle and Tacoma.

Washington produces more apples than any other state, and NWSA is the number one gateway for North American apple exports, by both volume and dollar value.

In 2016, NWSA shipped 26,609 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of apples, valued at more than $413 million. The prior year saw even higher figures, with 32,749 TEUs valued at more than $441 million.

“The ports of Seattle and Tacoma, and by association, the NWSA, are critical to the success of the Washington apple industry, exporting 30-plus percent of our total volume,” said Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission. “It is the ease of access to (these) world-class ports that have assisted the Washington apple industry’s world class reputation.”

Washington apples are valued by consumers around the world. But they are especially popular in Asia, where most apples shipped from NWSA ports are bound.

In 2016, India was the top volume destination, with 4,186 TEUs valued at $61.4 million shipped through Seattle and Tacoma. Taiwan was close behind, with 3,940 TEUs valued at $67.6 million.
Indonesia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and China are also among the top Asian destinations for NWSA apple exports by volume.

Rounding out the top 10 list are countries in other parts of the world: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic.

NWSA apple export volumes have remained steady over the past four years, said Steve Balaski, NWSA’s senior business development manager. But there’s budding competition from overseas producers in China, who are working to satisfy their country’s demand for apples.

Consumer tastes vary by nation, and Washington growers oblige by producing a variety of the popular fruit. The Chinese prefer Red Delicious, Gala or Granny Smith apples, while in Taiwan, the favorite variety is Fuji and in India, Red Delicious is the most popular, according to the Washington Apple Commission.

There are more than 2,000 varieties of apples grown in the United States, but Washington growers focus on a few primary varieties. Red Delicious—the best-known and most iconic apple variety—makes up 34 percent of the state’s apple crop. Gala accounts for 19 percent, Fuji 13 percent, Granny Smith 12 percent and Golden Delicious 10 percent.

“Red Delicious remains our number one export variety, and the primary variety vehicle for Washington state apple consumer introduction,” Fryhover said.

But he said that as countries around the world experience the growth of a middle class, “more Washington varieties are experiencing growth.”

Washington orchards are concentrated in the eastern half of the state, where rich soil and a sunny climate create favorable growing conditions.

More than 10 billion apples are harvested each year in Washington—each picked by hand. That’s enough apples, placed side-by-side, to circle the Earth 29 times.

Harvest season begins in August and continues through early November. But advanced cold storage technology means fresh apples are available year-round. The bulk of NWSA apple shipments begin in mid-October and run through mid-April.

Apples are harvested, then transported by truck from the orchard to the packing house, where they are chilled and placed into 42-pound tray pack boxes. They journey to NWSA ports in refrigerated shipping containers and head to destinations worldwide.