October Crunch: A Global Look at Apple Season Through Data
Every October, apples take the spotlight — from orchard visits and cider stands to caramel treats and fall festivals. But beyond the sweetness of the season lies a fascinating global story: how apples move around the world, how much we produce, trade, and consume — and how this fruit connects growers and markets across continents.
This month, we visualized the global apple market using USDA FAS data from 80 countries, turning harvest season into a dashboard of insights.
The World’s Apple Basket
In 2024, the world produced an incredible 217 million metric tons (MT) of apples. And it turns out, most of them are enjoyed right where they grow — nearly 210 million MT were consumed domestically.
That means apples are less of a “global traveler” than you might think: only about 10% of total production enters international trade, proving that this fruit is deeply local even in a global economy.
No surprise, China leads the orchard, producing almost half of the world’s apples. The European Union and the United States follow, rounding out a trio that together grows nearly three-quarters of the planet’s supply.
Apples on the Move
Even though most apples stay home, some make long journeys.
In 2024, the world exported about 20.6 million MT of apples and imported around 14.6 million MT.
The trade map shows fascinating contrasts:
Iran has emerged as a surprising export leader.
The United States and European Union remain major players.
India, Russia, and Vietnam are among the top importers, reflecting booming demand in regions where production can’t keep up with appetite.
So, while most apples never leave home, those that do travel help balance seasons — fresh apples in one hemisphere filling gaps in the other.
The American Orchard Story
Closer to home, the U.S. produced over 23 million MT of apples in 2024, remaining the world’s third-largest grower.
Most of that harvest — about 86% — was enjoyed domestically, proving America loves its apples as much as it grows them.
Still, the U.S. exported nearly 3.8 million MT, eight times more than it imported, maintaining a strong trade surplus of 3.3 million MT.
Imports, mostly from Chile and New Zealand, ensure crisp apples fill shelves year-round — because let’s be honest, no one wants to face winter without them.
The Big Picture
What this dashboard reveals is both simple and profound:
Apples are local by nature, global by trade, and timeless by season.
Whether it’s China’s vast orchards, Europe’s cider traditions, or America’s fall festivals, the data shows how a single fruit unites economies, climates, and cultures.
So next time you bite into an apple this October, remember — behind that crunch lies a world of data, trade winds, and seasonal rhythms that stretch from Washington orchards to Polish farmlands to Chinese valleys.
And just like autumn itself, the story of apples is both local and global, simple and complex, and always worth another look — preferably in an interactive Power BI dashboard.
At Vertical Circle, we make data meaningful — turning seasonal moments like October’s apple harvest into insights that connect business, sustainability, and everyday life.