WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — Washington state apple exports have dropped substantially.
Data from the Washington Apple Commission says the state exported 18.8 million 40-pound boxes of apples from the 2020-21 crop as of last week, which is down 20.5% from this time last year and down 16.4% compared to the 2018-19 shipping season.
While nearly 28% of state-produced apples were shipped abroad, the percentage of exports for the same 2020 crop is expected to drop below 25%.
Exporting apples and other crops from the U.S. has remained a challenge as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and trade issues with other countries.