In the nineteenth century, most American farms had a small orchard or at least a few fruit-bearing trees. People grew their own apple trees or purchased apples grown within a few hundred miles of their homes. Nowadays, in contrast, Americans buy mass-produced fruit in supermarkets, and roughly 70 percent of apples come from Washington State. So how did Washington become the leading producer of America’s most popular fruit? In this enlightening book, Amanda L. Van Lanen offers a comprehensive response to this question by tracing the origins, evolution, and environmental consequences of the state’s apple industry. Washington’s success in producing apples was not a happy accident of nature, according to Van Lanen. Apples are not native to Washington, any more than potatoes are to Idaho or peaches to Georgia. In fact, Washington apple farmers were late to the game, lagging their eastern competitors. The author outlines the numerous challenges early Washington entrepreneurs faced in such areas as irrigation, transportation, and labor. Eventually, with crucial help from railroads, Washington farmers transformed themselves into “growers” by embracing new technologies and marketing strategies. By the 1920s, the state’s growers managed not only to innovate the industry but to dominate it. Industrial agriculture has its fair share of problems involving the environment, consumers, and growers themselves. In the quest to create the perfect apple, early growers did not question the long-term environmental effects of chemical sprays. Since the late twentieth century, consumers have increasingly questioned the environmental safety of industrial apple production. Today, as this book reveals, the apple industry continues to evolve in response to shifting consumer demands and accelerating climate change. Yet, through it all, the Washington apple maintains its iconic status as Washington’s most valuable agricultural crop.

"An apple a day, keeps the doctor away" - this may be true in most cases but not in this one. Drinking in moderation is the best way to enjoy a good drink like Washington Apple. The Washington Apple cocktail or drink is a delightful cocktail that incorporates the taste of apples (usually with sour apple pucker) and the tangy flavor of cranberry juice resulting in a sweet and sour treat that can easily become a favorite. Though it is mostly in the form of a cocktail, the Washington Apple can also be served on the rocks or as a shot. It is like the adult version of an apple juice from a carton but only boozy, and fancier. Before learning the recipe, you need to learn how this awesome drink came to be. It's actually an interesting story. In the 1980s, there was a catastrophe that struck in Washington and affected the most in-demand apples. Due to the infamous Nigerian "Naguyuc" bug, a nasty crop failure occurred and along with it, a total loss on the farmers' part. Many have abandoned their orchards to look for other prospects in other fruits, except for one man named Christof Guycoogan who was a carpenter. After a day's work, he would enjoy a nice glass of his favorite shot that consisted of Canadian whiskey and a splash of cranberry juice.One night, after he finished work, he stopped by at a local bar and got his favorite drink. And then, suddenly, out of nowhere, still bearing the drink in his hand, he tripped into a pile of rotten apples and splashed juice on everything including his drink. He took a taste and had a moment of enlightenment. He thought the taste was divine and he started to visit the abandoned orchards to gather more rotten apple juice. He then fermented the juice into a fine apple liqueur and mixed it with the whiskey and cranberry juice that resulted in an amazing concoction, which is now famously known as the Washington Apple cocktail.

Washington is the apple-growing capital of the world and one of the most picturesque regions in the Northwest. This book looks at the history of the area and explores new varieties and farming methods.

Through US military history, Lavender directly confronts the dominant US viewpoint of redemptive violence, the concept that a nation can use its military to improve the human condition. Alternatives are presented in order to encourage the current recessive worldview that supports conflict resolution, cooperation, collaboration and peaceful efforts.