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Apple updates
The 2026 apple crop trends smaller.
Anecdotal reports suggest Washington's 2026 fresh apple crop continues to trend smaller. While cooler late-season weather has improved fruit color and internal quality across most varieties, quality issues remain with the Honeycrisp variety and SugarBee, a club variety. Growers with lower quality fruit are weighing their options, with some choosing to collect on their crop insurance quality policies. Despite these challenges, market fundamentals have improved from recent crop years. Processor markets have also strengthened on higher demand and reduced imports, particularly apple juice concentrate from China. The stronger pricing for processed grade fruit has increased the floor for fresh fruit prices, further strengthening grower returns. Smaller crops across North America and Europe are reducing available supply and should create market opportunities for Northwest producers. Producers await the results of Mexico’s anti-dumping investigation on apple imports from the U.S. Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. apples.
The pear outlook is stronger than a year ago. Growers are generally reporting an average-to-good quality crop with a size at / near average levels, creating a more balanced market environment. Producers are cautiously optimistic that lower supplies in Washington and reduced production in competing regions such as Argentina will support improved returns. Early pack-outs have been encouraging, organic pears continue to perform well, and demand from both fresh and processing channels is providing additional support to the market.
Profitability
September 16, 2026Apple producers: Slightly unprofitable - Bullish 12-month outlook
Apple packers: Slightly profitable - Neutral 12-month outlook
While the large 2025 crop continues to pressure profitability among producers, the 2026 crop looks to come in smaller and more in line with demand.
Apple packers continue to benefit from strong throughput volumes.
While the bulk of apples produced in the U.S. is sold domestically, export markets are relatively important and make up anywhere from 15% to 20% of total production. Foreign markets are particularly important for older varieties that have fallen out of fashion in the U.S., namely Red and Golden Delicious. Mexico, Canada, Taiwan, Vietnam and India are the largest foreign markets. While Washington has a reputation for producing superior-quality fruit, exports are sensitive to trade policy given significant production levels from competitors in Europe, China, Chile and South Africa. Between 2021 and 2024, U.S. apple exports to India fell to near-zero levels due to retaliatory tariffs. Apple imports make up a very small portion of the total domestic supply.
Apple production, exports and imports
Source: USApple Outlook Reports.
Tariff tracker - Tariff rates applied to U.S. trade partners are consistenly updated to reflect policy changes. The World Trade Organization (WTO) tracks duties and tariffs on fresh apples. For your convenience, the following links will take you to tariff data for Vietnam and India. Apples are currently exempt from tariffs with Mexico and Canada under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), but please refer to the U.S. Trade Representative website for up-to-date information. WTO also tracks rates for apple imports to the U.S. Please consult with a trade lawyer or professional for detailed and up-to-date insights on tariff rates and their application to fresh apples.
For guidance on interpreting duty and tariff rates, please refer our Tariff Guide.
Apple updates
The 2026 apple crop trends smaller.
Anecdotal reports suggest Washington's 2026 fresh apple crop continues to trend smaller. While cooler late-season weather has improved fruit color and internal quality across most varieties, quality issues remain with the Honeycrisp variety and SugarBee, a club variety. Growers with lower quality fruit are weighing their options, with some choosing to collect on their crop insurance quality policies. Despite these challenges, market fundamentals have improved from recent crop years. Processor markets have also strengthened on higher demand and reduced imports, particularly apple juice concentrate from China. The stronger pricing for processed grade fruit has increased the floor for fresh fruit prices, further strengthening grower returns. Smaller crops across North America and Europe are reducing available supply and should create market opportunities for Northwest producers. Producers await the results of Mexico’s anti-dumping investigation on apple imports from the U.S. Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. apples.
The pear outlook is stronger than a year ago. Growers are generally reporting an average-to-good quality crop with a size at / near average levels, creating a more balanced market environment. Producers are cautiously optimistic that lower supplies in Washington and reduced production in competing regions such as Argentina will support improved returns. Early pack-outs have been encouraging, organic pears continue to perform well, and demand from both fresh and processing channels is providing additional support to the market.
Profitability
September 16, 2026Apple producers: Slightly unprofitable - Bullish 12-month outlook
Apple packers: Slightly profitable - Neutral 12-month outlook
While the large 2025 crop continues to pressure profitability among producers, the 2026 crop looks to come in smaller and more in line with demand.
Apple packers continue to benefit from strong throughput volumes.
While the bulk of apples produced in the U.S. is sold domestically, export markets are relatively important and make up anywhere from 15% to 20% of total production. Foreign markets are particularly important for older varieties that have fallen out of fashion in the U.S., namely Red and Golden Delicious. Mexico, Canada, Taiwan, Vietnam and India are the largest foreign markets. While Washington has a reputation for producing superior-quality fruit, exports are sensitive to trade policy given significant production levels from competitors in Europe, China, Chile and South Africa. Between 2021 and 2024, U.S. apple exports to India fell to near-zero levels due to retaliatory tariffs. Apple imports make up a very small portion of the total domestic supply.
Apple production, exports and imports
Source: USApple Outlook Reports.
Tariff tracker - Tariff rates applied to U.S. trade partners are consistenly updated to reflect policy changes. The World Trade Organization (WTO) tracks duties and tariffs on fresh apples. For your convenience, the following links will take you to tariff data for Vietnam and India. Apples are currently exempt from tariffs with Mexico and Canada under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), but please refer to the U.S. Trade Representative website for up-to-date information. WTO also tracks rates for apple imports to the U.S. Please consult with a trade lawyer or professional for detailed and up-to-date insights on tariff rates and their application to fresh apples.
For guidance on interpreting duty and tariff rates, please refer our Tariff Guide.
