Karina Jones is a real-life ranch wife in the Nebraska Sandhills and one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the cattle industry nationwide!
Do you know what the #1 consumed fruit is in America? Stick around and you will find out right here on Fun, Fact Friday on Ranch Raised!
Leaves are turning, the landscape is hues of golden colors, and notes of cinnamon and nutmeg waft through the air this time of year. It has to mean that it is apple season! According to usapple.org, there are over 7000 varieties of apples grown in the US, so there has to be one of them that you like. Of course, there is, the apple is the #1 consumed fruit in the USA! The average person in the US consumes 10 pounds of apples a year and almost 13 pounds of apple juice and cider a year.
The US is the second largest grower of apples, behind China. The top 3 apple producing states are Washington, New York, and Michigan. Some of the top varieties grown here are Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and the Jones Ranch personal favorite, the Fuji apple!
It is exciting to see that we export 1 out 4 apples with Mexico and Canada being some of our best customers. I love seeing that we only import less than 5% of the apples consumed here. So buy with confidence that you are supporting the American apple producer!
The US apple industry is diverse and provides a lot of opportunities for growers between the fresh market, the processed apple market, agri-tourism and the U-Pick farm model.
So, if an apple a day does keep the doctor away, enjoy an apple courtesy of the hard work of the American apple producer! Have a great weekend!
Follow Karina Jones on Facebook!
Karina ranches with her husband, Marty, and 3 daughters near Broken Bow, NE. She grew up in western NE, with roots also in southwest SD. The cattle industry and raising kids is her passion.
Watching the cattle industry go the path that it has gone, she could no longer sit quietly at home checking cows, fixing fence, and doing all the everyday tasks wondering when some else was going to make it all better. As she became more active and outspoken on industry issues, she was asked to join the R-CALF USA staff in September 2020 as the Checkoff Petition Campaign manager. That position transcended into her current role as full time Field Director for R-CALF USA.
You can hear her almost every Friday on Your Ag Network’s Hot Barn Report that is broadcast on 60 radio stations with coverage in 9 states, where she deep dives into cattle industry issues and highlights R-CALF’s work on industry reforms. Listen to Ranch Raised on a Your Ag Network hometown station or www.youragnetwork.com where she talks about her daily life on the ranch.
Cattle producers are her people. She will meet you at the county fair, at the sale barn, or anywhere the dusty trail leads.
[email protected] or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
