How ‘bout them apples?

Vermont’s 2018 apple crop is expected to be similar to that of 2017 — “another solid year,” said Dr. Terence Bradshaw, the University of Vermont tree fruit specialist.

Which means Vermont’s apple-picking tradition will continue to flourish.

Many Vermonters and tourists relish the idea of picking their own apples. Vermonters and visitors harvest about 20 percent of the state’s crop, about 200,000 bushels.

Many apple growers’ marketing efforts focus on the pick-your-own and farm stand markets. This year, the growers’ organization began a new “Apples to iPads” campaign, encouraging young visitors and their families to visit orchards to find a wooden apple that can be redeemed for an Apple iPad mini 4 in 16 pick-your-own orchards located across the state. This promotional program checks a lot of important boxes about teaching the next generation about where their food comes from, buying local and making healthy eating choices.

Consumers can find a full listing of orchards to visit this fall at vermontapples.org.

Vermont’s apple crop has held steady at about 1 million bushels (about 40 million pounds) for much of the last 20 years. While the state’s large agriculture sector is associated with dairy and maple, apples are its third most valuable crop. Since the 1990s, the proportion of the state’s production sold locally has increased, but over 60 percent of the crop is still marketed outside the state as far away as Florida.

Vermont orchards grow more than 150 varieties of apples. The McIntosh remains the most important, accounting for about 50 percent of Vermont’s apple crop. Newer popular varieties like Honeycrisp and Gala are moving up the ranks, but have a long way to go before catching the McIntosh.

The Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association, founded in 1896 as the Vermont State Horticultural Society, represents Vermont’s commercial apple growers. According to New England Agricultural Statistics, the average annual value of Vermont’s apple crop is about $15 million.