Washington apples

In Washington’s apple country, small and mid-size farmers must adapt to changing economics, consumer tastes and technology.

Section:Gallery

Sat., June 3, 2017

Apple farmer Dave Robison shows the king blossom of an apple tree on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Chelan, Wash. Orchardists spray the trees so that only the king blossom remains in order to produce one apple that is of the highest quality.

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Red Delicious apples snake their way through an elaborate sorting and packing system on Friday, May 5, 2017, at Northern Fruit Co. in Wenatchee, Wash.

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An early 90's apple advertising photo featuring Apple Farmer Phyllis Gleasman's grandson Cody LaPorte as child posing with a local farmer hangs on her wall on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Manson, Wash.

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Apple farmer Dave Robison stands amid a new trellis system designed to focus all the trees energy into producing fruit form maximum yield on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Chelan, Wash. The new trellis are also spaced wide enough to fit a new platform picking system.

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Ceasar Lopez works in one of Phyllis Gleasman's orchards to plant new apple trees on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Manson, Wash.

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Red Delicious apples snake their way through an elaborate sorting and packing system on Friday, May 5, 2017, at Northern Fruit Co. in Wenatchee, Wash.

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Hernan Lemus, a Northern Fruit Co. machine operator runs an elaborate system that uses more than 47 cameras to photograph individual apples for sorting on Friday, May 5, 2017, at Northern Fruit Co. in Wenatchee, Wash.

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A new housing development sits across from an apple orchard is seen in South East Wenatchee on Saturday, May 6, 2017.

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Apple graphics mark the parade route for Wenatchee's Stemilt Growers Grand Parade during the 2017 Apple Blossom Festival on Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Wenatchee, Wash.

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Dani Monroe, the 2017 Queen of Cashmere rides an apple blossom float during Wenatchee's Stemilt Growers Grand Parade during the 2017 Apple Blossom Festival on Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Wenatchee, Wash.

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