Consumer demand for organic foods continues to expand at 15 to 20 percent per year in the United States. Recent research indicates that 23 percent of the population buys organic food weekly, and produce represents 39 percent of total organic food sales, the largest segment. Consumer Reports magazine ran an article on what organic foods to buy (Consumer Reports, 2006) and listed apples, pears, and cherries in the “must buy” category. Is it any wonder that mainstream supermarkets, including Wal-Mart, have come knocking on the doors of fruit companies in Washington State for a reliable supply of organic tree fruit? […]