The apple was declared the Washington State fruit in 1989. Why? Washington is the largest apple producing state in the US. They produced 171 million bushels in 2018. Did you ever wonder how to choose the best apple for baking a pie or enhancing a salad? Which apple is best for snacking? Can you freeze apples?
The Nine Most Popular Apples Grown in Washington State
- Red Delicious apples are an American staple. These apples are moderately crunchy, a little on the sweet side and great for snacking.
- Gala apples are a very crisp, sweet apple and a favorite for snacking, salads and sauces.
- Granny Smith apples are green and crisp with a tart flavor. These are great for baking, salads, sauces and excellent for freezing.
- Honeycrisp are a juicy, sweet apple, great for salads, baking, pies, sauces and snacking.
- Cripps Pink are less sweet, but crunchy. Use these for salads, sauces and pies.
- Golden Delicious is a versatile apple with a yellow skin. These sweet apples are good for sauces, salads, baking and freeze well. Enjoy as a snack, too!
- Braeburn are a tart apple that are great for pies, sauces and snacking. They are a great addition to salads.
- Cameo apples are a sweet/tart, crunchy apple. Use these in salads, baking, sauces, pies and freeze them too.
- Fuji apples are very sweet. They are great in salads and popular for snacking.
You will find the most abundant apple orchards east of the Cascades. Apples are grown in the scenic Lake Chelan area, the Wenatchee Valley and the Yakima Valley. Visit the sunny side of Washington in September through early October to discover family friendly farms and pick a few apples to take home.
Discover Washington one Inn at a time! Book Direct at one of our charming inns or BnBs and let a Washington INNSider help you plan the perfect fall getaway.
