Never, in my life, have I seen such absurdly high apple prices. 2024 prices are up again over last year, and 2023 was up 30% over 2022, despite it being an excellent year for the apple harvest
Most areas are reporting a basline price of $30 per bushel - IF you can fibnd it. That's the lower limit. Many apples are in the $45 to $55 per bushel range.
If it is any consolation, the overall quality of the apple criop looks excellent this year.
The prices for pick your own apples vary ENORMOUSLY throughout North America. It tends to be highest closer to urban areas, and especially in states that have higher taxes and costs overall, like the northeast and west coast. Here are a few local prices as reported.
2024: Apple prices at farm markets range from $30 to $80 per bushel. I'd estimate $45 to $55 for an average price.
It varies considerably by variety. More popular varieties like Honeycrisp are at the high end, red delicious is at the low end.
The chart at right or above from the USDA dates to 2018, but it gives a good idea of how the apple prices vary by variety.
A "40 lb box" means bushel.
The 2024 median price is most likely around $50 per bushel (42 lbs) in most areas of the U.S.
You should get this much... |
|||
Commonly made products |
|||
(42-48 lbs) (85 to 95 apples) |
1 bushel = 12 to 15 qt.
canned applesauce (no sugar added), 14 - 18 with sugar
1 bushel = 10 to 12 qt. juice |
||
|
1 quart applesauce | 2 pints | |
8 medium apples = 2.25 lbs | 1 nine-inch apple pie or 3 cups of applesauce |
||
1 peck = 10 to 14 lbs | 1
peck makes = 3 or 4.5 qts.
canned applesauce (no sugar added), 3.3 to 5.5 with sugar
1 peck makes 2.5 to 3.5 qt. juice |
3 or 4.5 qts. canned applesauce | |
1/2 peck = 5 to 7 lbs | Eat them fresh. Too few to make anything |
You may find these pages useful:
For other fruit and vegetable festivals, see this page!
For an excellent article about apple cider from Mother Earth News, click here.
________________________________________________________
Water bath canner with a jar rack
Pressure canners for gas, electric and induction stoves: Presto 23Qt or T-fal 22Qt
Canning scoop (this one is PERFECT)
Ball Blue book (most recent version)
Jars: 8oz canning jars for jams
Farm markets and roadside stands
Road trips and camping resources
Local Honey, apiaries, beekeepers
Consumer fraud and scams information
Home canning supplies at the best prices on the internet!
Maple Syrup Farms, sugarworks, maple syrup festivals
Environmental information and resources
Farms For Your Event for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, etc.
Festivals - local fruit and vegetable festivals
Get the
most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book
With this Presto 23 quart pressure canner and pressure cooker, you can "can" everything, fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, salsa, applesauce, pickles, even meats, soups, stews. Model 01781
You can make jams, jellies, can fruit, applesauce, salsa and pickles with water bath canners, like this Granite Ware 12-Piece Canner Kit, Jar Rack, Blancher, Colander and 5 piece Canning Tool Set