Western Fruit Orchards Geared To Flourish With Help From AI

Washington growers are no strangers to innovation. But at a recent Washington State Academy of Sciences webinar, the message was clear: artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just another wave of technology, it may be central to keeping farms in business. Derek Sandison, Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), opened with a snapshot of an industry under pressure. Washington agriculture generates $12.9 billion in farm-gate value and produces “an amazing 300 plus crops and commodities,” he said. Unlike Midwest row-crop regions, Washington’s specialty crop diversity means AI tools must be adapted to specific crops, varieties and growing systems.

Behind that diversity is a troubling trend. “We had over a 3,000 farm loss between 2017 and 2022 … and that trend is continuing,” Sandison said. At the same time, the economics are tightening. Washington has “the eighth highest production costs” in the nation while ranking “at the bottom of the list of states in terms of farm income.” He added plainly, “It’s not a recipe for success.” Sandison also noted a growing urban–rural divide, where policies shaped in population centers can add pressure to farm operations, making efficiency gains from technology even more critical.

That financial squeeze is driving the state’s focus on AI and advanced ag technology. “Technology is really, really an important factor in that thought of growing our way out of the conditions that we find ourselves in,” Sandison said. From the orchard to the packing line and into storage and transportation, “we can implement technology improvements all the way across the board.”

A Business-First Lens on AI

For tree fruit, that conversation is already underway. Ines Hanrahan, Executive Director of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, reminded listeners that innovation only matters if it improves the bottom line.

“A farm is, first and foremost, a business,” she said. Any new tool has to move one of two levers: “You can increase the amount of product that will give you the most amount of money… [or] decrease the amount of product that does not hit the supply stream.” In practical terms, that means more high-value fruit and fewer losses to culls, defects or postharvest issues.

Hanrahan described growers as natural problem-solvers but also outlined barriers to adoption. Often there is “a lack of commercially available options,” and even when technologies exist, “technology providers do not talk with each other.” She compared it to “having 18 different apps on the phone that don’t talk with each other,” a frustration many growers recognize.

Data: Abundant but Underused

That lack of integration is especially evident with data. Vision systems, sensors and digital records are generating more information than ever, but turning it into timely decisions remains a challenge.

“Oftentimes, for example, in bloom time we need data within hours,” Hanrahan said. “We’re able to generate and scan data, but then we don’t have it available for days. That is too late.”

Growers echoed the need to make data more usable. Washington tree fruit grower and NWFM CEO Keith Veselka described efforts to move field notes “out of notebooks into a platform,” allowing growers to “speak to your own data, your own farm when you’re on the ranches,” instead of sorting through spreadsheets later. Cherry grower Craig Harris of Harris Farms in Moxee, WA, said new sensors and imaging tools create “a lot more data points,” but without coordination, “it almost becomes more harder to make the decisions.” He sees AI as a way to “help us make sense of all this data,” from irrigation and fertility to harvest timing and packout expectations.

Standardization is another hurdle. Inconsistent packout reporting across warehouses makes it difficult to pinpoint where value is being lost. Better data integration could tie orchard practices directly to pack performance and returns.

Collaboration as a Competitive Edge

Washington may be uniquely positioned to address these challenges. Hanrahan pointed to active commodity groups, strong partnerships with Washington State University, and a hands-on grower community. “The collaboration approach is, in my opinion, really special,” she said.

That culture supports structured efforts like the tree fruit technology roadmap, focusing on irrigation, crop load management and harvest labor. AI is already showing promise in irrigation, where researchers have reduced water used to prevent sunburn by 50% using AI-enabled tools.

Beyond Labor

While labor-saving automation is a major driver, speakers emphasized a broader workforce shift. As routine tasks are automated, agriculture will increasingly need workers skilled in data, technology and systems management. Hanrahan offered a hopeful vision: agriculture could become “the new IT job,” attracting young people who want meaningful, high-tech careers in rural communities.

In that sense, AI in Washington orchards isn’t just about robots or algorithms. It’s about whether growers can remain profitable, rural communities can retain opportunity, and the next generation sees a future in farming. The pressure isn’t only financial — prolonged uncertainty is also taking a toll on farm families, adding urgency to tools that can improve predictability and stability.