The 2010/11 Washington apple crop looks like being the highest ever recorded, with estimates putting it around the 108.8m carton mark, just up on the all-time record of 108.3m shipped in 2008/09.
The estimate was released 11 August by the Yakima Valley Grower Shippers Association with the Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association, and is a 5m carton increase on last year's crop, The Packer reported.
'It is pretty similar to the 2008 crop,' said Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association manager Charlie Pomianek.
Mr Pomianek said the estimate had been fairly accurate over the past three years, varying by an average of 5.5 per cent on actual production levels.
The forecast predicts 35.4m cartons of red delicious, while gala output this year is thought to be around 26m cartons, up from 34m and 23m respectively in the 2008/09 campaign.
However, some varieties look to be in decline from the record-breaking season, such as golden delicious, which is down to 11.2m cartons from 12.7m two years ago.
Granny Smiths are thought to be around 14.3m cartons, down 14.6m in 2008/09, while Fuji production will be down slightly from 14.9m in 2008 to 14.6m this season.
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