Evergreen State farmers have been producing more apples than anybody else in the country for the better part of a century. 
When the first apple seeds were planted at Fort Vancouver in the 1820s, the history of apple growing in the state of Washington was officially kicked off. Apples were one of the first crops that early farmers planted to eat themselves and to also sell to make a living. Orchardists in the 1890s realized that the Yakima, Wenatchee, and Okanogan valleys in Central Washington were suitable for growing apples. This discovery coincided with the introduction of large-scale irrigation in the region. Growers were now able to sell their fruit across the entirety of the West once railways were built. Apples from Central Washington were shipped all over the country throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and due to the great quality of these apples, they fetched a high price. The Red Delicious apple variety reigned supreme in Washington throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, but it is currently facing competition from a number of other kinds, including the Gala and the Fuji. Apples are expected to retain their dominance as the state's most important agricultural commodity well into the year 2020.
Listen now to learn more about the most iconic crop produced in the Evergreen State to celebrate this year's Thanksgiving Holiday!

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Thank you for listening to another Thanksgiving Special episode of the History of the Evergreen State Podcast!