The value of agricultural production in Washington increased 3.8 percent to $10.6 billion in 2017. Apples were the number one commodity by value, at $2.4 billion (23.0 percent of the total). The chart below shows the top five commodities by value.

The second chart rounds out the top ten by value. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), hops and pears had record high values in 2017. The value of hops increased by 28.1 percent over 2016 (to $489.5 million), and hops now have a higher value than cherries.

Strawberries do not make the top ten. Last week Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times reported on a sad audit of the Washington State Strawberry Commission, which is dissolving. Capital Press later talked to Richard Sakuma, a member of the commission’s board, who said he had hoped the commission would continue, but “There just isn’t much of an industry left.” The NASS report shows that Washington produces 0.2 percent of U.S. strawberries, and we rank fifth in the country in strawberry production.

Washington ranks first in the U.S. in production of apples, sweet cherries, pears, Concord grapes, hops, spearmint oil, wrinkled seed peas, and blueberries.