Washington Fruit Growers

02/01/2026

After more than 20 years at Washington Fruit Growers, Dan Plath, Co-Owner and President of the Orchard Division, plans to retire in early 2026. Dan began his career with Washington Fruit in 2003, starting as a warehouse fieldman and farm manager before rising to lead the Orchard Division where he currently manages the company’s entire farming operations.

During his career at Washington Fruit, Dan played a key role in advancing the company’s farming operations through modern practices, improved crop load management, and new technologies. Under his leadership, the Orchard Division achieved best-in-class production and cost performance, reinforcing Washington Fruit’s reputation as a tree fruit industry leader. Dan also generously contributed his expertise to the broader industry through his service with the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission, the Washington Tree Fruit Association, and the Washington Apple Education Foundation initiatives, among others.

We are grateful for Dan’s leadership, dedication, and lasting impact on our company and the industry. We wish Dan and his family all the best in his well-earned retirement.

Darrin Belton will assume the role of Orchard Division President, joined by Robin Graham as Vice President and Gilbert Plath as full-time farm area manager. Dan will remain with the company during a transition period to support Darrin, Robin, and Gilbert.

05/09/2023

We are so excited to announce this partnership between Washington Fruit Growers and Gilbert Orchards! Tap the link below to read more 🍏

Two Pacific Northwest fruit purveyors have joined forces to grow and expand market reach in apples, pears and cherries.

12/06/2023

Cherries are here! 🍒

14/04/2023

Cherries are blooming in some of our earliest districts and the bees are out🌸🐝

24/03/2023

Cherry season is right around the corner! Cherry buds are healthy and plentiful 😎…..and the number of cherries per bud is higher than last year!

01/03/2023

Congratulations to Jesus! Jesus is an Assistant Area Manager here at Washington Fruit. We are excited to see him grow in this industry, and can't wait to see all you accomplish!

24/02/2023

Why do we prune?

Did you know, pruning helps regulate growth, increase yields, improves fruit size and quality, and it helps maintain overall plant health! Most of our pruning is done in the dormant season, just before active growth begins in the spring 🌸

14/02/2023

Meet the 2023 NextGen Apple Fellowship fellows! Congratulations to Kostas Batziakas, Ely Giroux, Emily Kropf, Aimee Peters, Jennie Strong, and our very own Jesus Rodriguez!

This program focuses on providing profession and leadership development, one-on-one mentoring, hands-on advocacy and community engagement in the apple industry!

We’re looking forward to see all that you accomplish! 👏🏼🍎

25/01/2023

Treat your family to this delicious Baked Apple Oatmeal recipe over the weekend! 😍

2 cups rolled old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups milk (regular or non-dairy such as almond milk)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup diced Honeycrisp apple (about 1 large apple), divided
1/2 cup dried fruit such as blueberries, cranberries, or tart cherries

Tap the link below for the full recipe and instructions!

https://washfruitgrowers.com/four-seasons/apple-recipes/baked-apple-oatmeal/

18/01/2023

To better understand fruit sizing we’re utilizing Hectre’s mobile app, Spectre. The app provides us with visibility of fruit size right after the fruit is picked. We then use this data to drive sales decisions. 🍏 🍒 🍐

16/01/2023

We are excited to announce that Washington Fruit has received the Bee Better Certification! In partnership with the Xerces Society, the Bee Better certification is the gold standard for pollinator-focused programs. Growers must meet the highest research-based standards for supporting on-farm pollinators, while still maximizing crop health and quality. Without bees, we wouldn’t have the abundance of our amazing apples, pears, and cherries. In fact, 1 in 3 bites of food you consume is the result of insect pollination….so, feel great about supporting those who support our friendly bees! 🍎🍐🍒

21/10/2022

Happy Pink Lady apple harvest!🍎

The gorgeous Pink Lady apples are first to bloom and last to harvest. They spend over 200 days in the sun, soaking up the rays which is how they get their signature blush color. The extra time in the sun contributes not only to the color but also their sweet-tart flavor and juicy crunch we all know and love!