Apple Crop Tops $1 Billion

The Washington apple has blossomed into the state’s first $1 billion crop, a state agency said Friday.

Strong exports and higher-than-average prices for Fujis, Braeburns and other specialty varieties pushed the farmgate value of the trademark crispy fruit to $1.02 billion, a 28 percent jump from $795.3 million in 1994.

“There’s been a significant average increase since those new varieties came into the picture,” said Diane Griggs, spokeswoman for the Washington Apple Commission. “It was a very good year for growers.”

For many other growers, too. Releasing its annual list of the top 40 commodities in the state, the Washington Agricultural Statistics Service said farmers reaped a record $5.84 billion for their efforts in 1995. That compares with $5.1 billion in 1994.

“This marks the first year for a $1 billion crop,” said Doug Hasslen, director of the statistics service in Olympia. “But we have a lot of high valued commodities.”

Wheat, milk, potatoes and cattle were the next most valuable crops behind apples, the statistics service said. Together, the top five crops accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total value of Washington commodities.

In Idaho, potatoes rebounded as the No. 1 crop after falling behind cattle and calves in 1994. Spud growers pocketed $702 million, up 23 percent from $573 million in 1994.

Runners-up were milk, cattle and calves, wheat and hay.

The cattle industry fell on hard times in 1995 as ranchers adjusted to an oversupply of beef and high feed costs. In Idaho, farmers posted cattle farmgate receipts of $618.1 million, down from $652.1 million the previous year. In Washington, the value of cattle dropped 12.5 percent during the year to $553.8 million.

“The cattle market has been down a long time,” Hasslen said.

However, milk showed big gains in Idaho, where California and Western Washington dairies have moved their herds to avoid excessive environmental regulation and business costs. Idaho milk products generated revenue of $508.1 million, up 11 percent from $456 million in 1994.

Idaho hay, which was the sixth most valuable crop in 1994, rose to fifth in the state last year, replacing sugarbeets.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Top commodities