Gala, a relative newcomer, holds the No. 1 spot in U.S. apple production for the third year in a row, while Honeycrisp, described by one reviewer as “juicy and instantly refreshing,” moved up a notch to No. 3, said the U.S. Apple Association on Thursday. The trade group, meeting in Chicago, estimated the 2021-22 apple crop at 265.4 million bushels (11.1 billion pounds), up 2.7 percent from the previous season.
“Fortunately, throughout the disruptions brought on by Covid-19, the U.S. apple industry has not seen any considerable decrease in domestic demand,” said Chris Gerlach, author of the group’s Industry Outlook 2021 report.
Gala, which originated in New Zealand in the 1930s, became the No. 1 apple in America in 2018, displacing Red Delicious, which had been the U.S. favorite for more than half a century. Consumers favor Gala for its taste, texture, and sweetness. Production was estimated at 49.3 million bushels this year, followed by Red Delicious, at 35.7 million bushels.
Developed by the University of Minnesota and introduced to the market in the 1990s, Honeycrisp is a medium to large apple with crisp white flesh, says fruit website Orange Pippin. Production was estimated at 31 million bushels this season, followed by Fuji, at 29.1 million bushels, and Granny Smith, at 27.2 million bushels.
Last season, Fuji was the No. 3 apple and Honeycrisp was No. 4. In 2018, when Gala surpassed Red Delicious at the top of the apple list, Honeycrisp replaced Golden Delicious in the No. 5 spot amid predictions it could become No. 3 within a year or two.