(upbeat music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.

Climate change is forcing Washington's apple cider industry to adjust.

The Pacific Northwest produces more cider than any other region in the country.

And Washington state produces 10 to 12 billion apples every year, about 64% of the nation's apples.

Andrew Byers, co-owner of Finnriver Farm and Cidery in Chimacum noticed something was off with his apples during harvest time.

The trees were full of apples about to drop, but also new blossoms starting too late in the season to mature.

For growers considering multi-decade investments, uncertainty on how to plan puts everyone on edge.

Climate change fallout is rapidly evolving, changing weather patterns and boosting extreme conditions, like heat waves.

Growers are taking measures to protect their crops, exploring more resilient apple varieties, like the heat-resistant Cosmic Crisp, and conserving waning resources, like water.

I'm Starla Sampaco.

Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.

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