—My food story August —’24— 7 tiful sunshine created ideal conditions for growing apples. Soon, what started as one orchard in the 1820s, became over 175,000 acres of beautiful farms throughout the state of Washington. The Washington Apple Commission was formed in 1937 by the state legislature to promote education, advertise, and develop markets on behalf of all growers within the state. The Washington Apple Commission is funded in part by its growers, with the primary goal of increasing consumption of Washington apples in international markets and protecting grower investment in the Washington brand against trademark infringement. With a focus on export programs, the Commission leverages grower funding with Market Access Program (MAP) funding, through the Foreign Agricultural Service, to develop and support Washington apple growers in over 60 countries worldwide. This allows the Washington Apple Commission to contract with thirteen representative offices in different markets that work directly with importers and retailers to implement promotional programs and communicate the Washington difference to consumers globally. Washington is responsible for 90+ percent of US organic certified apples, boasting over 16,000 acres of organic orchards and over 15 million boxes of organic apples every year. Additionally, growers in Washington work continually with, rather than against, nature. They rely on natural pest enemies, pest-resistant varieties, pest monitoring, horticultural practices, and other methods to minimize the need for agrochemicals. Today’s advanced pest management techniques offer other alternatives to pesticides, as farmers have a heightened awareness of environmental and safety issues. Growers are using new technologies to ensure top standards in food and worker safety. Starting with the orchards, growers are using new practices to improve efficiency. Many are installing high-density, single-spindle tree planting patterns. They use trellis systems for additional support. This is conducive to better-quality apples as well as labor savings since it’s easier to pick. Growers are also using new technology to increase safety for their harvest workers. Platforms are starting to replace ladders in some orchards, which give the harvest crew better footing and balance while picking the fruit. Apple quality is tested at random before and after harvest. The apples are collected into large bins, which are promptly brought to a nearby packing house. There they are thoroughly washed before computer-controlled cameras and scales weigh, inspect, and separate the apples according to color, shape, and size. Another system determines the internal condition of the apple and culls out apples that do not meet the high Washington standards for crispness and condition to ensure that only the best apples go into your shopping basket. Washington apples got their start on the Fort Vancouver farm in 1826, when the first apple trees in the Pacific Northwest were planted. Early settlers quickly learned that the area’s rich lava-ash soil and plentiful sunshine created ideal conditions for growing apples. Soon, what started as one orchard in the 1820s, became over 175,000 acres of beautiful farms throughout the state of Washington. The Washington Apple Commission was formed in 1937 by the state legislature to promote education, advertise, and develop markets on behalf of all growers within the state. The Washington Apple Commission is funded in part by its growers, with the primary goal of increasing consumption of Washington apples in international markets and protecting grower investment in the Washington brand against trademark infringement. With a focus on export programs, the Commission leverages grower funding with Market Access Program (MAP) funding, through the Foreign Agricultural Service, to develop and support Washington apple growers in over 60 countries worldwide. This allows the Washington Apple Commission to contract with thirteen representative offices in different markets that work directly with importers and retailers to implement promotional programs and communicate the Washington difference to consumers globally. Washington is responsible for 90+ percent of US organic certified apples, boasting over 16,000 acres of organic orchards and over 15 million boxes of organic apples every year. Additionally, growers in Washington work continually with, rather than against, nature. They rely on natural pest enemies, pest-resistant varieties, pest monitoring, horticultural practices, and other methods to minimize the need for agrochemicals. Today’s advanced pest management techniques offer other alternatives to pesticides, as farmers have a heightened awareness of environmental and safety issues. Washington is responsible for 90+ percent of US organic certified apples, boasting over 16,000 acres of organic orchards and over 15 million boxes of organic apples every year
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