Challenges and perseverance subjects of annual tree fruit convention

WENATCHEE — Anybody who’s been through them knows it’s been a rough couple of years in the tree fruit industry. One of the themes at the Washington State Tree Fruit Association annual meeting was that while it’s been a bumpy ride, Washington growers have the knowledge and skill to lead the comeback. Veteran orchardist Welcome Sauer said growers have done it before. He cited the market collapse of 1999-2000. “In the big downturn in the late 90s, we got out of that two ways,” Sauer said. “One is with the advent of new varieties, Fujis, Galas and other new varieties really pulled us out of that. They delivered a completely different eating experience. And those varieties countered the downtrend in Red Delicious. And the market loved them. The export markets loved them. Every market the United States loved Gala. And we made money on those varieties.”