The (Red) Delicious apple has ranked first in U.S. production for many
years, followed consistently in second place by Golden Delicious
(Table 3). Other well known cultivars generally have maintained
positions relative to each other during the years 1973-1988 (except
for the recent rise in popularity of the Granny Smith). But there is
no cultivar of standing during this IS-year period that has
maintained its importance relative to Delicious; all have slipped in
comparative importance, including cultivars like Jonathan and Rome
Beauty (Table 3). Hence, both Tables 2 and 3 indicate that, in the
past IS years, there has been a measurable tendency toward (a)
increased U.S. production, (b) in fewer locations, (c) among fewer
and larger producers, (d) who are specializing in a narrower range of
cultivars. However, A.D. O'Rourke has observed (in 1991 correspondence
with the authors) that "most new cultivars planted in the Pacific
Coast states are Fuji, Gala or Braeburn."
Table 3: Percentage Distribution of Commercial Apple Production as a Percent of Red Delicious, and Rank in Production, by Cultivar, United States, Selected Years, 1973-1988. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cultivar | Percent of US. Production | Percent of Leading Cultivar | Rank in Production | |||||||||
| 1973 | 1978 | 1983 | 1988 | 1973 | 1978 | 1983 | 1988 | 1973 | 1978 | 1983 | 1988 | |
| Cortland | 2.0 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 12 |
| Delicious | 34.9 | 34.9 | 41.2 | 40.6 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Delicious | 15.6 | 16.3 | 16.4 | 16.8 | 44.7 | 46.7 | 39.8 | 41.4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Granny Smith | - | - | 0.9 | 5.5 | - | - | 2.0 | 13.5 | - | - | 14 | 5 |
| Idared | - | - | 1.3 | 1.5 | - | - | 3.2 | 3.7 | - | - | 12 | 11 |
| Jonathan | 6.1 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 17.5 | 15.2 | 10.7 | 9.4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| McIntosh | 7.8 | 10.1 | 8.2 | 7.1 | 22.3 | 28.9 | 19.9 | 17.5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Northern Spy | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| R.I. Greening | 1.1 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 6.6 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 14 |
| Rome Beauty | 8.2 | 7.5 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 23.5 | 21.5 | 16.7 | 15.8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Stayman | 3.8 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 10.9 | 8.8 | 6.6 | 5.4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Winesap | 2.7 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 7.7 | 6.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Yellow Newtown | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 7.4 | 6.3 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
| York Imperial | 5.5 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 15.8 | 13.2 | 9.9 | 7.9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| All Other | 8.4 | 8.2 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 24.1 | 23.5 | 17.5 | 18.0 | ||||
| U.S. Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| (million pounds) | 6225 | 7554 | 8373 | 9158 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Source: For 1973 and 1978, Non-citrus Fruits and Nuts, annual summaries, Agricultural Statistics Board NASS, USDA, January 1975 and 1979. For 1983 and 1988, International Apple Institute, Box 1137, McLean, Virginia 22101. | ||||||||||||