Apple-picking interest is strong this fall, and the harvest behind it is anything but uniform. Spring weather events cut crops sharply in several major East Coast apple-growing states, while others came through with strong fruit and quality yields. Where travelers go this season could mean the difference between a full basket and a long drive home.
Total U.S. apple production for the 2026/27 season is forecast at 263 million bushels, down 7% from last year and 3% below the five-year average, based on USDA data and U.S. Apple Association analysis. The causes vary by state, from spring freezes and lingering effects of the 2025 drought on return bloom to hailstorms, and the damage was far from evenly distributed.
Apple picking is one of five leading search terms in Airbnb’s fall-themed wishlists right now, alongside fall foliage and leaf peeping, with 60% of travelers planning a weekend getaway this fall. Nearly half of Americans plan to travel this fall, with about 60% of those travelers planning to drive. Interest is strong across the board, but the orchard experience this fall varies significantly by region.
A harder year for East Coast orchards
Pennsylvania orchards are contending with what state industry representatives called a once-in-a-generation freeze event, with the statewide crop forecast down roughly 58% and many individual orchards reporting losses of 70% to 90%. Virginia’s USDA forecast is 1.8 million bushels, down 48%, following the April freeze and subsequent hail. Industry representatives are considerably more pessimistic, putting the crop at about 1.3 million bushels, down 63%.
Both states have well-established apple-picking tourism, making this year’s smaller crops relevant to fall visitors. The orchard experience will still be there, but some farms are already reporting reduced or canceled picking. Variety availability is also more variable this fall, depending on the orchard and region, therefore calling ahead before making the drive is more useful this year than most.
New York tells a more complicated story, with freeze damage hitting the southern part of the state and industry representatives forecasting the crop at around 29 million bushels, meaningfully below last year. Red Delicious, Pink Lady, Fuji and Idared are among the varieties hit hardest.
Western New York may be down only slightly, and the Champlain Valley is looking good. Ample rainfall brought above-average sizing to the fruit that survived, so quality is there even where quantity is not. Knowing which part of the state travelers are headed to before booking makes a real difference this fall.
The regions that came through in good shape
Washington state, which produces roughly two-thirds of the country’s apples, is down only 2% from last season, with quality described as strong and sizing trending up. Gala and Envy are looking particularly good, with both varieties expected to show strong color and pressure this season.
Michigan industry representatives believe the crop will come in above the USDA’s 25 million-bushel estimate, with Gala looking very strong and sizing back to average. For travelers within range of either state, current crop reports point to relatively good picking conditions this fall.
Picking the right orchard this fall
Honeycrisp, one of the most popular apple varieties among consumers, is trending upward nationally at about 27 million bushels, though availability still varies by state and individual orchard. Cosmic Crisp, once a specialty variety, has grown into a year-round apple with production well above its early years. Granny Smith is also trending upward nationally, with about 30 million bushels forecast.
If pick-your-own availability is limited at a particular orchard, a good farm market is worth factoring into the choice before booking. Many working orchards run farm markets alongside their picking operations, selling fresh fruit, cider donuts and baked goods even when particular varieties are no longer available for picking.
An orchard with a strong cider program can also give visitors another reason to go, since hard cider producers typically use a wider range of apple varieties, including specialty cider cultivars not grown for fresh-market picking. Orchards that offer something beyond the rows, from a farm market to a cider tasting or a bakery running on the season’s fruit, give visitors a reason to stay even if the pick-your-own window is shorter than expected.
Fall orchards favor the prepared traveler
The best orchard weekends tend to be the ones planned with a little regional awareness rather than assumed from year to year. This fall, weather has created stark differences between apple-growing states, and the regions that came through it well are worth the trip. Checking harvest conditions before booking is a simple step that makes for a better trip. Apple season rewards the traveler who arrives knowing what the region is working with.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.