Gala is Washington state's top apple this season
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The top apple produced in Washington state remains the trusty Gala apple, followed by the Honeycrisp and Granny Smith varieties.
- At the same time, Cosmic Crisp, which was bred at Washington State University and released in 2019, is climbing up the ranks.
The big picture: Washington is the nation's top apple growing state, producing more than half of the nation's apples — meaning what we grow here has a major impact on what's available on store shelves around the country.
By the numbers: Cosmic Crisp, a cross between the Honeycrisp and Enterprise apples, is forecasted to be the fifth-most common apple grown in Washington during the 2025-26 season, according to USApple, an industry group.
- Red Delicious comes in at No. 4 in Washington, although it's the second most commonly grown apple nationwide.
Fun fact: The nation's No. 2 apple-producing state, New York, is forecast to produce about 30.5 million bushels this season — about one-sixth of Washington's projected annual harvest.
What's next: National Apple Day is Oct. 21.