Food production in Washington reached an all time high last year, with apples once again topping the list, despite a drop in sales.

The total value of Washington’s agricultural output hit $5.94 billion, which marks the fourth consecutive year of growth, and a step up from the previous record of $5.92bn in 1995.

Washington is responsible for producing half of the US apple crop, and represented 16 per cent of the state’s farmed products last year.

But apple sales fell 18 percent to $962 million, down from $1.18bn in 2003.

Valoria Loveland, director of the state department of agriculture, attributed the decline in apple sales in part to weather, as well as a decline in bearing acres.

More apple growers are planting cherries, which are highly profitable, and wine grapes, or they are planting new apple varieties that are not yet producing fruit, she said.

And these changes were reflected in the financial gains enjoyed by several other fruit crops in 2004, including cherries at $242m, pears at $133m, red raspberries at $47m and blueberries at $16m.

Meanwhile onion growers fared poorly, experiencing a 38 percent drop from $141m in 2003 to $87m in 2004.

Overall, record crop sales show the state's agriculture industry has increased its efficiency and remains healthy, according to Loveland.

However, concerns about the 2005 crop remain, due to drought conditions and rising fuel costs, she said.

“We're going to see the impacts of higher diesel and fertiliser costs next year, and I am concerned about the value of the crops and the profitability to stay near the top.”

Ranking number five on the list, after cereals and dairy, potatoes accounted for $460m out of the $1.8bn top category.

Fruit and nuts were the third largest category, after the primary category and livestock, making $1.49 billion.

Meanwhile, specialty products including forest products, Christmas trees, floriculture, nursery and other horticultural products and mushrooms, had a combined value of $535 million. Commercial vegetables had a combined value of $366 million, with berry crops making $78.8 million.

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