PROSSER, WENATCHEE, and YAKIMA, Wash. — An expanding Washington State University Extension team of tree fruit experts is preparing to take on some of the most pressing challenges facing Washington orchards, thanks to funding from the landmark WSU Tree Fruit Endowment.
The expansion comes as longtime Extension educator and Agriculture and Natural Resources unit lead Karen Lewis prepares to retire May 1. Stepping into a broader leadership role is Tree Fruit Extension and Research Team Lead Gwen Hoheisel, who brings a long history of collaborative work in tree fruit research and Extension.
“The possibilities are exciting,” said Hoheisel. “We haven’t had this many Extension faculty focused on tree fruit in my 20-plus years here.”
New team members will work on fixed-term projects, focusing on specific tree fruit challenges to deliver near-term impacts before pivoting to the next priority.
“Using applied research as a methodology to educate while understanding industry priorities is one of Extension’s superpowers,” said Lewis, who helped lead the team’s early development. “The endowment leverages our tree fruit expertise and industry connections while strengthening communication with the growers who need the information.”
Launched in 2013 through a $32 million, grower-funded commitment, the Tree Fruit Endowment was fully funded in 2020 and is designed to rebuild Extension capacity and advance research, better connecting the two focus areas. So far, four out of the six new Extension outreach positions have been filled. The new hires’ expertise will be aimed at tackling disease and pest issues, horticultural improvements, technological advancements, and postharvest fruit quality.
It’s important work in Washington, the nation’s leading producer of apples, pears, and sweet cherries. About 30% of the state’s agricultural production value lies in those three tree fruit commodities, with apple production alone contributing an estimated $7.5 billion in total economic impact and supporting more than 60,000 jobs statewide, according to a 2024 report by the Washington State Tree Fruit Association.
Based in Prosser, Wenatchee, and Yakima, the growing Extension team serves tree fruit producers across south-central Washington. Hoheisel anticipates stronger coordination with WSU endowed chair tree fruit researchers and faster translation of lab discoveries into orchard impacts.
“The endowment will enhance the partnership between research, Extension, and industry,” Hoheisel said. “Tree fruit growers can help our Extension team understand what’s happening in the field so we can develop educational content, solve problems, and move to the next new challenge.”
With a larger, more connected team in place, WSU can better help sustain one of Washington’s most important agricultural sectors, said WSU Extension Director Vicki McCracken.
“As a land-grant university, we’re now better positioned to serve the public’s needs, benefitting the economy and people statewide,” she said. “This investment ensures we can help growers respond to current challenges, keeping Washington’s tree fruit industry strong for the future.”
Further information
Visit the WSU Tree Fruit website for more information.
Media contact
Gwen Hoheisel, Tree Fruit Extension and Research Team Lead, email: ghoheisel@wsu.edu, phone: 509-786-5609