Washington Apples.org
By Ryan Stewart
This blog exists to express disgust with the Washington apple industry, both historically and presently. The industry uses harsh chemicals to “grow food”. Once you read this blog, you’ll probably stop thinking of Washington apples as food, and start thinking of them as products manufactured with toxic chemicals. I’m originally from the Spokane area, where my family and friends worked in the agricultural industry. I first became interested in the topic while visiting friends in Lake Chelan, an area that I love going to, and have since I was a child. I thought that the rolling hills filled with orchard trees were one of the most beautiful views in the world, until I realized the farming practices that historically used to grow apples, and the irresponsibility that exists today.
I’ve cultivated a network of other concerned citizens, and a big thank you to those who help contribute research and send me articles for this blog.
A lot of people in the industry might be angry with this blog. Change sometimes hurts and is uncomfortable. Change sometimes isn’t profitable. Change can be disruptive.
Many apple growers won’t voluntarily change their ways. Our government, however slow and broken, will have to get around to forcing them. Or consumer demand… once people read this blog they will have another reason to patronize organic fruits and vegetables.
So it’s time for the apple industry to change your ways. Embrace organic farming.
Stop the addiction to harsh chemicals. You remember the Alar scare of the early 90’s? Did you not get the message? Consumers do not like nasty chemicals used in conjunction with growing their food. That’s why the organic movement has been growing exponentially.
It’s time for the industry to wake up. We’re tired of our air, water, and soil being polluted in the name of growing apples.
We’re tired of you destroying the paradise that is Central Washington and Oregon.
Hi there, very interesting information! I really respect your links to the studies, this massively elevates the value of the site to be more respectable. Have you thought about submitting any articles to the Wenatchee World?
Thanks very much for the encouraging comments.
We don’t publish anything based just on raw emotion. All of our articles are fact-based and science-based. Sadly, we have found that some in the apple industry have a “different kind of science”, which basically means ignoring the scientific facts that many of the chemicals and pesticides they use are terrible.
We haven’t thought about submitting anything to the Wenatchee World. Do you think they would be interested? I do know lots of people in Wenatchee who are fed up with the spraying. They have families, and they are sick of this stuff in their airspace and around their kids. It’s doesn’t matter if you live directly next to an orchard, or away from one. You can smell Chlorpyrifos going down the highway this time of year (April). Studies show that pesticides drift a long way.
If you have any contacts who might be interested, let us know.
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Who is this putting out this website and content? I’m curious if you have identified yourself yet.
Why would we want to do that?
I find his information extremely fasinating and informative, however, bashing your neighbors and filing lawsuits is not the way to achieve what you are trying to do.. which is (i think) have all the orchards in our valley and surrounding areas go Organic. Most of us agree, organic is good, but cant happen overnight with orchards that have not been for years. I would love to see your research on “turning an orchard organic”.
We’ve updated the About Us section of the blog if you care to know more about the authors. We had to redact the part of your comment in which you make accusations as the authorship. We do not allow personal attacks on the site. Thank you.
Thank you for the complement. We already have some research on Organic farming, and we will make sure to do an article on Organic Farming to answer your questions. You say that “it can’t happen overnight”. Have you taken any steps at all personally in that direction? To start growing organic?
yes
Here is our article on why growers need to go organic: http://washingtonapples.org/uncategorized/why-dont-apple-growers-want-to-go-organic/
This is not information on how to change a non- organic orchard to an organic orchard.
remember, you chose to purchase a home that was surrounded by orchards and your home sits on what was once an orchard. There are several organic orchards in the valley, and if you felt so strongly about living “organic”, it is hard to comprehend why you would choose a house clearly surrounding by several families with non-organic orchards.
Comments with personal names in them will be redacted.
It takes 3 years… not overnight, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. What have you done to move that direction?
Oh I don’t know, unless you are afraid to debate someone publicly. I imagine it’s a great deal easier to trash organizations, or growers in anonymity.
We are debating publicly. Our initial fear was personal backlash or retaliation from angry persons in the apple industry. You know…a couple of lowly paid farm hands coming to our house to harm us or our children.
But no problem. I’ll take the risk because this is a cause I believe in. So we’ve updated the About Us page so you can learn more about the authorship.
So what now? Would you like to debate?
” a couple of lowly paid farm hands coming to our house to harm us or our children”
Admin, what is your definition of the above statement? Again, you make assumptions that our agricultural workers are “lowly paid”… are you saying that because they are “lowly paid” they are more likely to retaliate by coming to your home and harming you and your children?
Not only is that a racist statement, it is ludicrous.
Comments with personal names in them will be redacted.
Thank you so much for publishing this website. The apple growers need to get the message that what they are doing is harmful and you are doing a great job of presenting the facts, not just emotions.
It sounds like Lisa Gleasman is an apple grower. Isn’t this a wakeup call for you? Wouldn’t you think that a person like Lisa would sit back and think “Gee, we’re killing ourselves. Maybe we should stop spraying?”
Duh.
You guys seem to be getting really caught up on the technicalities like “orchards were here first”. Whatever. You’re killing yourself. You are basically giving yourselves cancer, right? Why keep fighting for such an idiotic cause?
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