
TFREC is the research and extension center of Washington State University dedicated to the tree fruit sciences. Located in the primary fruit producing region of the world, the center features a cooperative, multidisciplinary approach to tree fruit production in the 21st century.
WA 2: first WSU apple variety

After 15 years, the WSU apple breeding program has released its first apple cultivar. Currently known as ‘WA 2’ was released because of its outstanding eating quality, appearance and productivity and therefore it’s potential to be a successful cultivar in Washington State.
It is attractive with an orange-red to pinkish-red blush over a yellow background and has large and conspicuous lenticels which usually make it easily distinguishable from other cultivars and add to its overall pleasing appearance. The fruit has outstanding texture, being very firm, crisp and juicy and loses very little firmness in storage and on the shelf (more...)
Pear Postharvest Meeting
A WSU Fruit School and Pear Bureau Educational Seminar will be held on February 17, 2010 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 1507 North 1st St., Yakima, Washington. This all-day meeting starts at 9 AM and will include sessions on “Disease and Disorder Controls” and “Conditioning Pears to Increase Consumption and Profitability.” The cost of this meeting is $30, which includes a conference booklet, lunch and coffee breaks. (more...)
New employees
WSU-TFREC wishes you to welcome three new employees: Ute Chambers, Manager and Educator for DAS; Yanni Yin, Visiting Scientist with the Postharvest Pathology program; and Lisa Brutcher, Scientific Asst. in the Apple Breeding program.
Awesome Apple Adventures 2009 was a great success!
This year on Sep. 23 & 24 we hosted 32 second grade classes from the Wenatchee and Eastmont School districts, as well as St. Joe's and St. Paul's (approximately 800 kids, and 125+ adults). This learning opportunity in an outdoor classroom included stations manned by WSU, USDA, and the Wenatchee School District.
Sunrise Field Day previews future
Attendees at the First Annual Field Day for the new WSU Sunrise Research Orchard on July 22 received a preview of the future for the tree fruit industry.
What they saw are new apple varieties, improved methods for pest control, and robtic orchard equipment. This was also an opportunity for WSU to show returns on the investment for the new research orchard located halfway between Wenatchee and Quincy.
More at WSU Today...
Orchard Pest Management on web
OPM: a Resource for the Pacific Northwest is now available on the web. This valuable reference for anyone concerned with tree fruit arthropod pests includes 98 species and other accounts and a new gallery of over 900 photographs. Go to OPM...
Impact: the value of research & extension
Washington State University's Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center is well situated to meet the immediate and future needs of Washington's fruit industry. More...
Consumer Horticulture
The Consumer Horticulture Community at eXtension has a new web site to provide resources on backyard horticulture with such topics as composting, pollinators, and tree selection (go to eXtension).
WSU-TFREC Sites of Interest
Integrated Pest Management
- Pest Management Transition Project
- IPM Decision Aid System (DAS)
- Western Orchard Pest & Disease Management Conference
- Enhancing Western Orchard Biological Control
- Survey results: pest management practices 1990 & 2000
Orchard Management
- Orchard Pest Management: a Resource for the Pacific Northwest
- Soils & Fertilizers: a Presentation
- Cullage Assessment & Education Program
- Peshastin Creek Areawide Organic Project
and More
- Climate prediction
- A Field Guide to Experimental Designs
- Additional online resources
- Jobs at TFREC