Apples hang from a tree in an orchard near Mattawa. Preserving the older types of apples that helped Washington get its start as an apple-producing powerhouse is the subject of a bill being considered by the Washington Legislature.
January 30, 2026
Stories this photo appears in:
February 3, 2026 3 a.m.
WA lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to preserve the state’s historic apples
OLYMPIA — As the nation’s top apple producer, Washington is best known for varieties such as Gala, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Red Delicious. But across small orchards and family homesteads, antique apples – some short and stout, covered with yellowish russets, with names like Winter Banana – grow quietly, preserving pieces of state history that were never truly gone.