Washington State is the leading producer of apples, pears and cherries (both conventional and organic) in the nation. The climate in central Washington coupled with adequate irrigation water make this a great environment for many temperate fruits. Other important fruits are juice and wine grapes, peaches/nectarines, and apricots, and berry production is also increasing. Western Washington has long been an important producer of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Fruit crops are sold throughout the nation and exported overseas, as well as in local markets and fruit stands. Advances in horticulture and pest management have played important roles in keeping these crops economically viable and in demand by consumers.
Featured Publications
Climate analogs can catalyze cross-regional dialogs for US specialty crop adaptation
Chaudhary, S., Rajagopalan, K., Kruger, C.E., Brady, M.P., Fraisse, C.W., Gustafson, D.I., Hall, S.A., Hoogenboom, G., Melnick, R., Reyes, J., Stockle, C.O., Sulser, T.B. 2023. Climate analogs can catalyze cross-regional dialogs for US specialty crop adaptation. Scientific Reports 13, 9317. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35887-x
Dairies to Berries: Dairy-Manure Derived Fertilizers for Use in Raspberry and Blueberry Cropping Systems – Evaluation for Agronomic, Soil Health and Food Safety Efficacy
Benedict, C, Yorgey, G, Zhu, MJ, Zhang, Y, Tsai, H-C, Stacey, N, Su, Y, Sheng, L, Shen, X, Schacht, E, Kruger, C, Hills, K, Drennan, M, Cook, J. 2020. Dairies to Berries: Dairy-Manure Derived Fertilizers for Use in Raspberry and Blueberry Cropping Systems – Evaluation for Agronomic, Soil Health and Food Safety Efficacy. Final Report. Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Evaluation of Pre-harvest Microbiological Safety of Blueberry Production With or Without Manure-Derived Fertilizer
Shen, X, Sheng, L, Benedict, C, Kruger, CE, Su, Y, Schacht, E, Zhang, Y, Zhu, MJ. 2020. Evaluation of Pre-harvest Microbiological Safety of Blueberry Production With or Without Manure-Derived Fertilizer. Front Microbiol. 10:3130. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.03130
Trends and Economics of Washington State Organic Blueberry Production
Brady, M., E. Kirby, and D. Granatstein. WSU Extension Fact Sheet FS154E. April 2015.
Productivity, economics, and fruit and soil quality of weed management systems in commercial organic orchards in Washington State, USA
Granatstein, D., P. Andrews, and A. Groff. May 2014. Organic Agriculture. DOI 10.1007/s13165-014-0068-0
2nd International Organic Fruit Research Symposium 2012
eOrganic conducted live broadcasts from the 2nd International Organic Fruit Research Symposium in Leavenworth, Washington on June 19 and 21, 2012. The recorded presentations from this symposium will be of interest to researchers, Extension professionals, growers, consultants, suppliers, and retailers who wish to learn the latest developments in the worldwide organic fruit supply chain.
Proceedings of the 2nd International Organic Fruit Symposium 2012
D. Granatstein, P.K. Andrews, S.D. Bishop, W. Janisiewicz, editors. June 2012. Acta Horticulturae 1001. Article abstracts available online; full articles available for purchase or through subscribing libraries. Topical areas include organic fruit systems, insect biocontrol, horticulture, plant pathology, soil and crop nutrition, and economics. All the oral presentations from the symposium can be viewed free on eOrganic at http://www.extension.org/pages/64359/2nd-international-organic-fruit-research-symposium#.Uk3WTVMkRyQ .
Organic and Integrated Fruit Production
website; WSU Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center.
Current world status of organic temperate fruits
Granatstein, D., Kirby, E., Willer, H. 2010. Acta Hort. 873:19-36.
Apple Replant Disease – Alternatives to Fumigation
Dr. Mark Mazzola, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Lab, Wenatchee, WA. Website highlighting several publications on Apple Replant Disease.
Reducing Food Safety Risks in Apples: A Self-Assessment Workbook for Producers of Apples, Juice and Cider
CSANR Technical Report #2
Additional Publications
Supply chains for processed potato and tomato products in the United States will have enhanced resilience with planting adaptation strategies
D. Gustafson, S. Asseng, J. Kruse, G. Thoma, K. Guan, G. Hoogenboom, M. Matlock, M. Mclean, R. Parajuli, K. Rajagopalan, C. Stöckle, T. Sulser, L. Tarar, K. Wiebe, C. Fraisse, C. Gimenez, W. Intarapapong, T. Karimi, C. Kruger, Y. Li, E. Marshall, R. Nelson, A. Pronk, R. Raymundo, A. Riddle, M. Rosenbohm, D. Sonke, F. van Evert, G. Wu, L. Xiao, C. Zhao. 2021. Supply chains for processed potato and tomato products in the United States will have enhanced resilience with planting adaptation strategies. Nature Food 2:11, 862-872.
Recent Trends in Certified Organic Tree Fruit: Washington State 2014
Kirby, E. and D. Granatstein. Current statistics on organic tree fruit acreage trends, varieties, shipments, prices, and exports. Includes global area data as well as cost of production data for Washington. Annotated Powerpoint format.
Evaluation of day-neutral cultivars for organic strawberry production in Washington
Hoashi-Erhardt, W.K., P.P.Moore, D.P.Collins, A.I.Bary, and C.G.Cogger. 2013. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 1001:167-174
Status of Organic Tree Fruit in Washington State
Kirby, E. and D. Granatstein. 2012. EM046E, Washington State University Extension.
2010 Cost Estimates of Establishing and Producing Organic Apples in Washington
Galinato, Suzette P., David Granatstein and Mykel R. Taylor. 2011. 2010 Cost Estimates of Establishing and Producing Organic Apples in Washington. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS041E. Excel workbook (enterprise budgets) available http://extecon.wsu.edu/pages/Enterprise_Budgets. Select “apples” for access to the FS041E workbook.
Stability of anthocyanins in frozen and freeze-dried raspberries during long-term storage: In relation to glass transition
Syamaladevi, R. M., Sablani, S. S., Tang, J., Powers, J. and Swanson, B. G. 2011. Journal of Food Science 76: 414-421.
Potential nitrogen contributions from legumes in Pacific Northwest apple orchards
Mullinix, K. and Granatstein, D. 2011. Intl. J. Fruit Sci. 11:74-87.
Quality of Organically and Conventionally Grown Apples and Strawberries
Research on apple and strawberry by Dr. Preston Andrews, Dr. John Reganold, and Dr. Neil Davies.
Cover crops in orchards and vineyards
WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center webpage. Contains links to additional resources and presentations.
Organic Vineyard Management
WSU Viticulture and Enology Research and Extension. Contains links to articles, publications and posters.