California Orchard Listings

Northern Region (Yellow), 6 orchards Apple Hill Region (Pink), 37 orchards Central Region, including Sonoma County (Green), 21 orchards Southern Region, including Oak Glen and Tehachapi (Blue), 36 orchards

California's Apple Industry The California Apple Industry finds its roots in the 1800s, when two of the earliest orchards were located in Watsonville and Sebastopol along the Central and Northern coastal regions, respectively. As California grew, so did its apple industry, which has rapidly blossomed in the late twentieth century. It is only in the past 19 years, however, that California has emerged as a major commercial producer of apples. As a relatively young commercial apple-growing state, California is characterized as purposely innovative, not overly bound in tradition nor afraid to continually search for a better apple. The California apple industry aggressively works to breed a better growing and tasting apple, and overall, California apple growers strive to produce rich taste and flavor. The wide variety of apples grown in California take full advantage of the unique benefits California's climate provides. Consumers find California apples attractive because they are different in both name and appearance and offer superior flavor. Retailers like California apples because California's major varieties generally command a better price. Today there are more than 450 growers and almost 50 handlers/marketers in the state of California. California currently ranks as the country's fourth highest apple producing state, which is an impressive accomplishment achieved in only 19 years of serious commercial production. Source: California Apple Commission Back to Top