The World Needs Washington
What a year it’s been! For those of us who work behind the scenes on Washington Grown, we have learned about nearly all the farms and food in our great state. We’ve met some of the nation’s best farmers and chefs. We’ve seen inside the manufacturing centers that produce what we see on our grocery store shelves. Trust is vital between consumers and our food makers. Washington farmers work tirelessly to deliver the safest, most reliable food supply to our communities. High quality standards are the norm for American consumers. We expect the best in quality at prices we can afford. We often take for granted just how much local food we have access to on a daily basis. Rarely do we walk into one of our Washington grocery stores and not get what we want. We are #lucky. And, we have excess.
Each year, Washington exports an average of $8 Billion worth of food and agricultural products. Exports are vital to Washingtonians and our overseas customers.
Potatoes
Russets, Reds, Yukons
Washington has two distinct growing areas: The Columbia River Basin in Central Washington and the Skagit Valley between Seattle and the Canadian border. Growers in both regions take pride in the high standards they have set for growing the perfect potato and are proud of their stewardship of the land and the water. These growers are among the nation’s leaders in adopting sustainable crop management practices and new production techniques, based on years of experience and ongoing crop and production research. While some fresh potatoes are being exported, most potato exports are in the form of frozen french fries. Top Export Markets for frozen french fries: Japan, South Korea, Mexico.
Hops
If you like beer, you LOVE Washington! Washington is the #1 producer of hops in the U.S. In fact, the U.S. is the largest producer in the world, which makes our state the hop capital of planet Earth. Our hops are grown commercially in the Yakima Valley, where the desert climate and abundant irrigation provided by the Yakima River, creates an ideal environment for producing hops. You can find our hops in beers around the world. Top Export Markets: Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom.
Sweet Cherries
Nobody does sweet cherries better than Washington! Our most popular fresh cherry varieties are Bing, Rainier, and Lapins. Like pears, the Yakima, Wenatchee, and Columbia River Basin areas are the most productive growing regions in the state. The soils and climate of Washington are ideal for growing this special crop, and we ship our cherries by plane to export markets so they arrive as fresh as possible. Top Export Markets: Canada, Taiwan, China.
Wheat
Wheat is the world’s most essential crop, providing 20 percent of calories necessary to feed the planet’s seven billion people. Washington wheat is vital to the world, and we export roughly 90% of our crop. Eastern Washington is home to some of the best wheat quality grown in the world. Most wheat grown in Washington is winter wheat which is planted in the fall. After harvest, rail and barge transportation work together to move millions of bushels of wheat to ocean export locations along the Washington coast each year. Top Export Markets: Philippines, Yemen, Japan.
Pears
Anju, Bartlett, Bosc
Washington pears are beloved worldwide! In many nations pears symbolize abundance and longevity, making this a favorite gift. Washington is the #1 producer of pears, and the most popular varieties are Anju, Bartlett and Bosc. The Wenatchee, Yakima, and Columbia River regions are the most productive growing areas in the state. Top Export Markets for pears: Mexico, Canada, Guatemala.
Mint
spearmint and peppermint
Washington keeps us minty fresh all year long! We are the #1 producer of spearmint oil and #3 producer of peppermint oil in the U.S. Most of the state's mint farms are located in the Columbia and Yakima River Basins. Roughly 90% of our mint goes to flavor chewing gum, mouthwash and toothpaste. About 50% of Washington mint production is exported to countries all over the world. Top Export Markets: Germany, China, Mexico.
Cooking School
What is TET?
Berry Importer
Grocery Shopping
Wine Importer
Grapes & Wine
Washington is quickly taking over wine country! In 2022, Washington produced 240,000 tons of wine grapes, which was a 34% increase from 2021. We are now the second-largest wine producing state in the U.S., with 400+ grape growers, 60,000+ acres of wine grapes, and 1,000+ wineries making over 17 million cases of wine annually. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Riesling are our top three varieties, but we grow all the popular blends. With up to 17 hours of summer sunlight per day (about 1 more hour during the peak of the growing season than California’s prime growing region), Washington wines are becoming a global favorite. In 2021, 32 Washington wineries exported wine to more than 60 countries. Top Export Markets: Canada, Sweden, Germany, South Korea.
Berries
raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries
We grow berries better than almost anywhere in the world! Washington is the #1 blueberry-producing state in the U.S. and demand continues to grow! Washington also produces approximately 90% of the nation’s frozen red raspberry crop. We have two distinct growing areas: The Columbia River Basin and the northwest corner of the state in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Washington’s unique soils and ideal climate support one of the longest berry seasons in North America. Export Markets for berries: Canada, Vietnam, Philippines.
Dairy
We’ve witnessed it…the happiest and healthiest cows live in Washington! Milk is the second largest commodity produced in Washington. There are hundreds of dairy farms across the state, and each and every farmer is dedicated to making the freshest, best-tasting milk on the planet, while being good stewards of their cows, their land, and their communities. Washington’s powdered milk and value-added dairy products are growing in popularity around the world. Top Export Markets: Indonesia, Japan, Mexico.
Apples
Red delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp
Everyone loves Washington apples! We are the nation’s #1 producer of apples. Our long days and cool nights during the growing season make it a haven for growing high quality apples. Five Washington apple varieties make up over 95% of all exports: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Gala, and Fuji. Top Export Markets for apples: Mexico, Canada, Vietnam.
Pulses
It’s pulse country in Eastern Washington! Dry peas, lentils and chickpeas are becoming a favorite crop for Washington dryland farmers in Whitman, Spokane, Columbia and Lincoln counties. Pulses are highly nutritious and can be found in everything from lentil flour to hummus and are versatile in all kinds of recipes, making them a favorite among consumers around the world. Top Export Markets: Spain, China, Canada.
