Washington State University's (WSU's) Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center hosts WSU faculty and Agriculture Research Service scientists from the United States Department of Agriculture and supports staff and students who conduct research and outreach on certain crops, with a primary emphasis on apple, pear, and cherry.  In 1994 WSU began an apple breeding program to develop new varieties of apple suited to the unique climate of central Washington and easily available to Washington growers.

Washington State University must establish and adopt rules to implement a Heritage Orchard Program.  A heritage orchard is an orchard with at least five apple trees that are more than 74 years old, or an orchard with at least one tree of a rare or lost apple variety as defined by the Heritage Orchard Program.  The WSU Heritage Orchard Program must maintain a registry of heritage orchards in Washington and develop and maintain a list of rare and lost apple varieties.