Michigan apple growers to harvest 32M bushels in 2023

An above-average apple crop of 32 million bushels of apples is anticipated for Michigan this year, according to an estimate announced at the recent U.S. Apple Outlook event.

“This fall brings the second large Michigan Apple crop in a row for our industry,” Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, said in a news release. “As growers continue to plant high-density orchards and adopt other innovative growing practices, Michigan’s apple crop will continue to grow.”

According to the USDA, Michigan harvested a record 32.38 million bushels of apples in 2022. The average annual crop size is approximately 24 million bushels. There are more than 14.9 million apple trees in commercial production, covering 34,500 acres on 775 family-run farms in Michigan, the release said. 

Many factors contribute to the size of an apple crop, including weather, bloom conditions and tree health. To make the estimate, growers and other industry experts report on what they are seeing in various regions of the state, then come to a consensus on the crop size estimate, according to the release. 

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“Michigan had mostly favorable weather conditions for growing apples during spring and summer 2023,” Smith said. “While some regionalized losses occurred due to frost and hail, overall our state’s growers report a very healthy crop with great-looking fruit.”

Michigan apples are available nearly year-round from August to June. The largest and most valuable fruit crop in the state can be found at about 150 farm markets and cider mills in Michigan as well as more than 12,000 retail groceries throughout the U.S., according to the release. 

“Michigan apple growers share a common goal of producing flavorful, high-quality apples,” Smith said. “They work with tree fruit researchers to implement the latest growing techniques and use new technology to monitor growing conditions. Michigan growers are committed to bringing the best quality fruit to the consumer.”        

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world. For more information, visit MichiganApples.com. 

Learn: More about apples from PMG