My name is Orlin Knutson. I live in a small town called Mattawa, Washington near the Columbia River in Central Washington. I’ve been farming in Eastern Washington for 33 years. I also have a small cherry orchard in Rosario, Chile, South America. I grow three varieties of sweet cherries, three of nectarines, three of peaches and five varieties of apples. All of our crops are tree fruits and our entire farm is organically certified.

In growing our fruit organically we use no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Most of the fertilizer needs are provided with the use of composted manure and plant material. Organic farming attempts to balance and manipulate natural elements to grow crops without the use of environmentally damaging chemicals.   

The climate in eastern Washington is ideal for organic tree fruit production.  The growing season is long, with clear, bright sunshine.  The days are warm and the nights cool, which contributes to good flavor and color of the fruit.

We began our harvest in the middle of June with cherries.  Through July and August we move through the six varieties of peaches and nectarines.  Then from August to November we are harvesting the five apple varieties.