WASHINGTON – Washington State agriculture has broken records for three years in a row with production values reaching $10.2 billion in 2013.
The newly released 2014 Washington Annual Agriculture Bulletin, which is complied by the USDA, has broken down Washington’s 2013 crops by commodity.
Apples maintained their position as the state's top crop with 156,000 pounds harvested for a total of $2.2 billion.
Rounding out the top three were milk at number 2 with $1.3 billion, a 12% increase over 2012, and wheat at number 3 with $1 billion, a 13% decrease.
The rest of the top 10 include:
- Potatoes with $792 million, a 13% increase
- Beef with $706.4 million, a 7% increase
- Hay with $675 million, as 8% increase
- Cherries with $385.2 million, a 23% decrease
- Grapes with $278.6%, a 12% increase
- Pears with $225.4 million, a 10% increase
- Hops with $202.1 million, a 40% increase
According to the USDA, Washington ranks first in the nation for the production of apples, Concord grapes, sweet cherries, pears, red raspberries, green peas for processing, carrots for processing, hops, spearmint oils, peppermint oils and wrinkled seed peas.
The Evergreen States also ranks second for potatoes, nectarines, apricots and all grapes.
With the recent news that China will now accept all varieties of Washington Apples in the next few weeks, apples are primed to hold their spot as the state’s top commodity.
