About Us
The WSU Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center (TFREC) hosts eleven WSU faculty, one Emeritus Professor, two research faculty, and five USDA‐ARS scientists who conduct research and outreach on annual and perennial specialty crops. Although the primary emphasis is on apple, pear, and cherry. Research areas represented include entomology, horticulture, plant physiology, plant pathology, soil biology, and irrigation. There are also administrative staff, farm and facilities personnel, visiting scientists and post-docs, technical/research support staff, graduate students, and summer interns associated with research and extension programs. Watch a short video slide show about the Center or visit our History page to learn more about how we got started.
Location
The main TFREC campus, located within the city limits of Wenatchee, WA, is approximately 30 acres in size and is comprised of two primary office buildings (one housing WSU personnel; the other housing USDA-ARS researchers), entomology and insect ecology laboratories, greenhouses, pesticide and regular storage buildings, a cold storage/packing line facility, multiple student housing units, and the physical plant facilities. The number of on-campus planted acres has decreased over time. However, there are still experimental blocks of apples and pears at the Center. The bulk of the research plantings are located off-campus at the Columbia View Orchard (CV) and the Sunrise Research Orchard (SRO).
Columbia View Research Orchard (CV) This property is located about 10 miles north of Wenatchee off Hwy 2/97, is 92 acres in size with roughly 43 that are suitable for orchards. This site was given to WSU by the tree fruit industry with the stipulation that USDA-ARS would have access to half of the orchard for their research activities. This location has equipment storage, as well as storage for pesticides and fuel. This site has the distinction of being the home of the “Mother Tree” for WA 38/ Cosmic Crisp®.
Sunrise Research Orchard (SRO) This property was purchased in 2006 by WSU as a site for a new research orchard replacing the Center’s recently sold on-campus orchard blocks. SRO is located about 15 miles south of Wenatchee just east of HWY 28 and just south of Rock Island Dam. The total site consists of 300 acres with 150 acres suitable for orchards (partially due to water rights limitations).
Mission Statement
TFREC is the hub for researchers, educators, extension specialists, students, and stakeholders focusing on irrigated tree fruit and specialty crop systems to develop and apply new science-based knowledge and products to advance economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable agriculture for industries and communities in Washington and the world.