WENATCHEE — With apple harvest well underway, the agricultural commodity is expected to produce 142 million standard forty-pound boxes of freshly harvested apples, according to the Washington State Tree Fruit Association.
Despite another record-high drought level, producers and orchards adapted to environmental conditions to produce a high-quality fruit.
“This year, Washington has experienced favorable growing conditions and good fruit sizing despite conditions in the state that curtailed water supplies to some orchards,” said Jon DeVaney, WSTFA president. “Growers anticipate a large crop with great eating quality. However, challenging economic conditions, including concerns about labor supply during harvest, mean that many growers will be more selective in what they pick. As a result, t