Arabfields, Naïla Mokhtari, Special Economic Correspondent, America — CMI Orchards has started its new Washington apple season with a larger crop and stronger production across several of its key varieties, giving retailers a more favorable supply outlook as the 2026 season gets underway.

Harvest began several days earlier than last year, with the company reporting good fruit quality and strong sizing. For orchard workers and packing teams in Washington, the early start brings a familiar rush as fruit begins moving from the trees into the supply chain and retailers prepare for the busy apple-selling months ahead.

CMI expects conventional apple production to rise 10.9 percent during the 2026 harvest, while organic production is forecast to increase 5.5 percent. The gains are not evenly distributed across the portfolio, with some varieties showing particularly strong growth.

SugarBee is expected to record the largest increase among the company’s conventional varieties, with production rising 52.3 percent. Gala, Granny Smith and Red Delicious are each expected to grow by roughly 20 to 25 percent, giving CMI a substantially broader supply position across some of the industry’s most established apple categories.

The organic segment is also expanding. Organic Honeycrisp production is projected to increase 15.7 percent, while organic Cosmic Crisp is expected to rise 33.9 percent. Organic Gala is forecast to grow 17.8 percent.

The figures point to a deliberate shift toward premium and organic apples, as retailers continue looking for products that can attract shoppers beyond traditional price-based promotions. For families buying fruit for school lunches or snacks, the wider range of organic and kid-focused options could also give retailers more opportunities to build apple sales during the autumn season.

CMI is also increasing its investment in newer varieties. Organic SugarBee production is beginning to ramp up, although the company does not expect significant volumes to become available until around the following season. That suggests the variety could become a more important part of the company’s organic offering as production matures.

The company’s marketing strategy is being expanded alongside the larger crop. CMI plans to support retailers with promotions aimed at families, younger consumers and shoppers interested in discovering different apple flavors. Digital tools designed to help consumers identify varieties according to taste preferences are also expected to play a greater role in driving purchases.

The stronger production outlook could give CMI greater flexibility through the coming months. With conventional volumes up by more than 10 percent and several core varieties growing at double-digit rates, the company should have more fruit available to support promotional activity without relying as heavily on limited supplies.

The outlook for organic apples is similarly encouraging, although the 5.5 percent overall increase is more moderate. Continued growth in organic Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp and Gala suggests that premium organic varieties are likely to remain an important area of expansion.

If the current production forecasts are achieved, CMI could enter the next marketing cycle with a significantly larger and more diversified apple program. The early harvest, strong sizing and higher volumes provide a positive starting point, while the continued expansion of newer varieties could gradually reshape the company’s portfolio.

For growers and workers, however, the success of the season will ultimately be measured beyond the orchard. The real test will come as the fruit moves through packing houses and into stores, where quality, pricing and consumer demand will determine how well the additional crop translates into stronger sales.

For now, CMI’s message to retailers is straightforward: there will be more Washington apples to work with, more varieties on offer and a larger selection of organic fruit as the season progresses.