The economic outlook for the tree fruit­ ­industry in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest is quite good. This conclusion may surprise many readers accustomed to the steady stream of negative stories in the media. However, the reason for this optimism about the fruit industry is that it now services a global market. While its fate is still heavily ­influenced by conditions in the United States, it also competes very effectively in many growing export markets. Outlook Since 2007, the United States, like many other countries, has suffered both severe recession and a financial crisis. Economists Kenneth Rogoff and Carmen […]