The national apple acreage has declined about 10% or nearly 33,000 acres over the past decade. “People are seeing the writing on the wall,” he said, adding that farmers were mainly removing processing blocks that had been underperforming. Fresh apples represent about 70% of national production but 90% of value. Washington’s apple acreage, however, increased 8% over the past decade and yield improved 17%. California acreage dropped 27% since 2015 and Oregon apple orchard acres have dipped 8%.