A recent study from Washington State University (WSU) reveals that climate change poses significant challenges to apple orchards in some of the most productive regions of the United States.
The researchers conducted an extensive study that included over four decades of climate data. They analyzed how varying weather conditions influence the critical growth stages of apple trees.
These stages include bud break, flowering, fruit development, maturation, and color development – all of which are crucial for healthy yields and high-quality apples.
Climate change and apple growth
The study revealed alarming trends, particularly for the three most productive apple-growing counties in the United States: Yakima County in Washington, Kent County in Michigan, and Wayne County in New York.
Among these, Yakima County – a powerhouse with over 48,800 acres of apple orchards – was found to be the most severely affected.
Yakima County exhibited harmful trends in five out of the six climate metrics studied, indicating the region’s heightened vulnerability. These metrics include factors like extreme heat, warm nights, reduced cold periods, and shifting frost dates, all of which disrupt the delicate balance needed for apple growth.