Washington Apples

Two decades ago the United States had a healthy apple juice industry, but due to increases Chinese apple production over the past two decades, their apple juice concentrate has flooded the US market. During this time, imports of Chinese concentrates grew by more than 3000 times from a mere $45,000 in 1989 to $170,818,000 in 2005. This growth has been put scores of Washington apple orchards out of business.

“The domestic apple juice concentrate market just doesn’t make money anymore”, said Dave Carlson, President of the Washington Apple Commission.

Currently, Chinese apples juices and concentrates are allowed into the country, but for now, fresh apples are kept out of the United States. In 2003, the United States Department of Agriculture identified 300 Chinese insects and diseases as concerns. Although 52 species still remain as threats to US crops, the Chinese continue to push to export their apples to the US.

American and Chinese apple production were almost equal in 1990, but while the United State’s apple production has remained relatively constant, China’s production has quintupled, allowing China to take the place as the world’s largest apple producer. If Chinese apples are allowed into the United States, the fresh apple industry may go the way of the juice-apple industry. The low wages paid to Chinese farm workers allow exporters to sell Chinese apples cheaper than US apples.

“The small farmer is drying up and going away”, said Jim Perkins, co-owner of the Apple Valley Orchard in Sedro Woolley, which is located in the Skagit Valley north of Seattle, Washington.

Carlson puts his hopes for survival in the high quality of Washington apples. “I have yet to find one of their [Chinese] apples that has good flavor.” Carlson notes, “Washington apples have higher food safety standards and just taste better”.