Globalization of the Washington Apple Industry: Its Evolution and Impacts

Abstract

A major challenge in the study of commodity systems is to discern the various local impacts of globalization. The objective of this paper is to do this by presenting evidence from the development of Washington's apple industry. Washington State, which for years has been the leading producer of apples within the United States, is also a dominant player in global apple markets. In general, the Washington apple industry has followed a Fordist path to success by producing in ever increasing quantity and quality a comparatively inexpensive and undifferentiated commodity, i.e. red and golden delicious apples.

Evidence presented in this paper shows that steadily growing global sales of apples produced in Washington are associated with increasing vertical integration of packing with production and the partial replacement of family with waged migrant labor. The benefits of economies of size in warehousing and production are causing the production base to expand into nontraditional growing areas where large orchards are being planted. Local labor supplies are inadequate and larger numbers of low-income migrant and settled (first generation migrant) laborers are being employed in orchards and warehouses. These changes are occurring at a time when there is heightened labor and community conflict in apple growing areas. Our analysis of this industry demonstrates that globalization is not a recent phenomenon, that the "state" continues to play an important role in the process, that globalization is firmly embedded in local dynamics and processes, and that an associated element of globalization is an increased reliance on wage labor.