Apricots are stone fruits belonging to the Prunus genus, making them relatives of peaches and plums. They are not native to North America but were successfully introduced to the continent by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century. Unlike many other crops, apricot cultivation is highly dependent on a specific confluence of environmental factors. This dependency severely limits the regions in the United States where commercial growing can thrive, dictating that the vast majority of the national supply is sourced from just a few isolated areas.
The Dominant US Production Hubs
Commercial apricot production in the United States is concentrated overwhelmingly in a few Western states, dominated by California. California stands as the primary hub, responsible for producing approximately 90% of the country’s total apricot yield. The cultivation base shifted historically to the state’s interior, where the San Joaquin Valley now serves as the epicenter of large-scale growing. This region provides the necessary heat and consistent dry climate required for predictable, high-volume harvests.
The only other significant commercial producer is Washington State, which accounts for most of the remaining US-grown apricots. Washington’s production is typically focused on the fresh market, operating on a smaller scale compared to California’s output, which supplies both fresh and processed markets.
Essential Climate Needs for Apricot Cultivation
The geographical limitations for apricot orchards are directly tied to the tree’s physiological needs, especially during winter and early spring. Apricot trees require a specific period of cold temperatures, known as “chill hours,” during the winter months to properly break dormancy and flower consistently. Depending on the cultivar, this requirement can range from 350 up to 900 hours, restricting cultivation to areas with reliably cold winters. If the tree does not receive enough chilling, it may experience delayed leafing, poor bloom, and sparse fruit setting.
Despite needing cold dormancy, the trees are extremely vulnerable to frost damage once they begin the flowering process, which happens much earlier than other temperate fruit crops. Apricot blossoms and young fruitlets are highly sensitive; temperatures dropping below freezing can damage developing fruit. This narrow window of vulnerability means that regions with unpredictable late-spring frosts, or mid-winter thaws followed by a hard freeze, are unsuitable for commercial production. Furthermore, the fruit needs hot, arid summers for optimal ripening and to prevent fungal diseases, a condition readily met in the Central Valley of California.
Smaller Scale and Home Gardening Regions
While commercial production is confined, apricots can be successfully grown on a smaller scale in various other regions that partially meet the climatic demands. States within the Intermountain West, such as Utah and Idaho, see limited production, but yields are often inconsistent. Frost damage to the early blossoms makes large-scale farming too risky for market supply in these areas.
Growers in the Northeast and parts of the Midwest sometimes cultivate cold-hardy varieties, like those from the Canadian Har series or Manchurian apricots, which are bred to withstand harsh winter temperatures. These trees are often planted by home gardeners or small local orchards who can tolerate sporadic yields. They often employ micro-climate strategies, such as planting on slopes to allow cold air to drain away.