In the next three years, Washington’s organic tree fruit industry is set to grow as much as it has in the past 20 years. Harold Ostenson, organic program manager at Stemilt Growers, Inc., Wenatchee, said that the state’s organic tree fruit production is expected to double by 2009. “What other industry’s going to double in two years?” he asked. He thinks Washington’s organic apple production could reach 8 to 10 million boxes (around 10 percent of the crop) within the next few years, but it won’t happen without some growing pains. Organic apple production has had some ups and downs […]