Organic apples may be firmer and have better storability than apples grown conventionally, a Washington State University study suggests. In the study, organically grown apples were firmer on average both at harvest and after storage. The trial took place in a four-acre plot within a commercial 50-acre conventional apple orchard in Washington’s Yakima Valley. The Golden Delicious trees in the experiment were planted in 1994 and farmed under one of three systems: organic, integrated, and conventional. In 1999, the trees were grafted over from Golden Delicious to Gala because of problems with fruit russeting. The first stage of the study […]