Apple Orchards
Description
Apples grow in U.S. orchards, which represent a significant portion of the crop production sector. These establishments focus on cultivating apple trees and producing fruit for fresh consumption, processing, or export. Typical activities include site preparation, planting saplings, irrigation, pruning, fertilizing, pest management, and harvesting the mature crop. Operations may involve post-harvest handling, grading, packing, and cold storage to maintain quality before distribution. The industry includes independent small family farms, medium-sized commercial operations, and large regional growers. Scale varies widely, ranging from a few dozen trees used by home gardeners to vast plantations covering thousands of acres managed by corporate entities. Many facilities are located in the Pacific Northwest, California, New York, and Michigan where the climate suits apple cultivation. Some operators integrate livestock production alongside fruit farming to maximize land use efficiency. Others specialize in specific varieties like Gala or Honeycrisp, catering to both local markets and national chains. The sector also supports related businesses supplying seeds, equipment, labor, and transportation services. Overall, apple orchards play a vital role in rural economies and contribute substantially to national food security and agricultural output.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, and harvesting fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats. The establishments in this sector are often described as farms, ranches, dairies, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, or hatcheries. A farm may consist of a single tract of land or a number of separate tracts which may be held under different tenures. For example, one tract may be owned by the farm operator and another rented. It may be operated by the operator alone or with the assistance of members of the household or hired employees, or it may be operated by a partnership, corporation, or other type of organization. When a landowner has one or more tenants, renters, croppers, or managers, the land operated by each is considered a farm. The sector distinguishes two basic activities: agricultural production and agricultural support activities. Agricultural production includes establishments performing the complete farm or ranch operation, such as farm owner-operators and tenant farm operators. Agricultural support activities include establishments that perform one or more activities associated with farm operation, such as soil preparation, planting, harvesting, and management, on a contract or fee basis. Excluded from the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector are establishments primarily engaged in agricultural research (e.g., experimental farms) and government establishments primarily engaged in administering programs for regulating and conserving land, mineral, wildlife, and forest use. These establishments are classified in Industry 54171, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; and Industry 92412, Administration of Conservation Programs, respectively. |
| 111 | Crop Production 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Crop Production subsector grow crops mainly for food and fiber. The subsector comprises establishments, such as farms, orchards, groves, greenhouses, and nurseries, primarily engaged in growing crops, plants, vines, or trees and their seeds. The industries in this subsector are grouped by similarity of production activity, including biological and physiological characteristics and economic requirements, the length of growing season, degree of crop rotation, extent of input specialization, labor requirements, and capital demands. The production process is typically completed when the raw product or commodity grown reaches the "farm gate" for market, that is, at the point of first sale or price determination. Establishments are classified in the Crop Production subsector when crop production (i.e., value of crops for market) accounts for one-half or more of the establishment's total agricultural production. Within the subsector, establishments are classified in a specific industry when a product or industry family of products (i.e., oilseed and grain farming, vegetable and melon farming, fruit and tree nut farming) account for one-half or more of the establishment's agricultural production. Establishments with one-half or more crop production with no one product or family of products of an industry accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production are treated as general combination crop farming and are classified in Industry 11199, All Other Crop Farming. Industries in the Crop Production subsector include establishments that own, operate, and manage and those that operate and manage. Those that manage only are classified in Subsector 115, Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry. Establishments that raise aquatic plants in controlled or selected aquatic environments are classified in Subsector 112, Animal Production and Aquaculture. |
| 1113 | Fruit and Tree Nut Farming 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing fruit and/or tree nut crops. The crops included in this industry group are generally not grown from seeds and have a perennial life cycle. |
| 11133 | Noncitrus Fruit and Tree Nut Farming 5-digit NAICS industry | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) growing noncitrus fruits (e.g., apples, grapes, berries, peaches); (2) growing tree nuts (e.g., pecans, almonds, pistachios); or (3) growing a combination of fruit(s) and tree nut(s) with no one fruit (or family of fruit) or family of tree nuts accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production (i.e., value of crops for market). |
| 111331 | Apple Orchards 6-digit U.S. detail | Apples grow in U.S. orchards, which represent a significant portion of the crop production sector. These establishments focus on cultivating apple trees and producing fruit for fresh consumption, processing, or export. Typical activities include site preparation, planting saplings, irrigation, pruning, fertilizing, pest management, and harvesting the mature crop. Operations may involve post-harvest handling, grading, packing, and cold storage to maintain quality before distribution. The industry includes independent small family farms, medium-sized commercial operations, and large regional growers. Scale varies widely, ranging from a few dozen trees used by home gardeners to vast plantations covering thousands of acres managed by corporate entities. Many facilities are located in the Pacific Northwest, California, New York, and Michigan where the climate suits apple cultivation. Some operators integrate livestock production alongside fruit farming to maximize land use efficiency. Others specialize in specific varieties like Gala or Honeycrisp, catering to both local markets and national chains. The sector also supports related businesses supplying seeds, equipment, labor, and transportation services. Overall, apple orchards play a vital role in rural economies and contribute substantially to national food security and agricultural output. |
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Classification References
- 01Growing apples and manufacturing alcoholic ciders--are classified in Industry 312130, Wineries; and
- 02Growing apples in combination with tree nut(s) with the apples or family of tree nuts not accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production (i.e., value of crops for market)--are classified in U.S. Industry 111336, Fruit and Tree Nut Combination Farming.
Index Items
Apple orchards
How Item Can Help
Transportation Management Systems monitor vehicle temperature and humidity continuously to ensure apples remain in optimal condition during long-haul distribution across regional markets.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 111331.
California Apple Growers Association
A major trade association representing apple growers in California and the surrounding region.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Government portal providing official statistics and reports on agricultural production and market data.
Apple Industries Association
Organization dedicated to promoting the apple industry through education, advocacy, and research.
