Jonathan declined by 1.3 percent, Ida Red by 3.3 percent, McIntosh by 3.8 percent and Rome by 6.6 percent. The most heavily planted variety in 1997 was Gala, with 161,000 new trees added. Plantings of Red Delicious that year totaled 100,400 and Golden Delicious 78,200, followed by Jonagold at 42,300. Michigan's growers have targeted solid markets in the long-popular Red Delicious and Golden Delicious and in two newer varieties that are in a strong upswing in consumer demand, Gala and Jonagold. Well over half of Michigan's apple production is sold to processors, who transform raw apples into many forms, including sauce, juice and slices for pies.
Sauces are often blends of several varieties, just as juice and fresh apple cider are.
Makers of frozen pies need firm, tasty varieties that hold up well during baking. Their preferences include Northern Spy, Jonathan and Ida Red. Michigan is the nation's leading supplier of apples for the large frozen-pie market. Michigan apples can end up anywhere in the nation in processed form. Transportation costs are a factor in any distribution pattern, of course, and limit Michigan's fresh apples to distribution predominantly east of the Rockies.