Winter Weather Cut Washington Apricot Crop In Half

That late blast of winter we saw that hit in February and March appears to have impacted the Washington apricot crop.  B.J. Thurlby told the Spokesman Review last week that those unseasonably cold temperatures cut production in half.  The president of the Washington State Fruit Commission says in a typical season, the state produces roughly 5,000 tons of apricots, but this season the yield was closer to 2,500 tons.

Washington accounts for 20% of apricot production in the United States.  Apricots produced in Washington are shipped all over the country, but rarely leave North America. The Washington Apricot Marketing Committee, said the fruit that did make it to market met U.S. Department of Agriculture grades and standards.

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