SB 6090
In CommitteeSenate
Heritage orchard program
Establishing the heritage orchard program.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates a heritage orchard program at Washington State University to protect rare and historically significant apple varieties in Washington. It recognizes that many apple varieties have disappeared since 1900, and some “lost apples” have been rediscovered in old orchards. The program will identify, preserve, and share these varieties to safeguard agricultural heritage.
- Establishes a heritage orchard program at Washington State University to conserve rare and extinct apple varieties.
- Requires WSU to maintain a registry of heritage orchards in Washington State.
- Defines a heritage orchard as either: (1) an orchard with at least five apple trees over 74 years old, or (2) at least one tree of a rare or lost apple variety.
- Tasks WSU with propagating rare and lost apple cultivars for use in backyard and commercial orchards.
- Requires WSU to develop and maintain a list of rare and lost apple varieties found in the state.
Who is affected
- Owners of heritage orchards and small-scale fruit growers — Will help identify, protect, and expand rare or historically significant apple orchards, including those on family farms and homesteads.
- Washington State University (WSU) and its agricultural research/extension programs — May receive technical and financial support to conserve rare apple varieties and expand orchard conservation efforts.
- Commercial apple growers and nurseries — Will benefit from increased availability of rare apple varieties for planting and commercial use, supporting local agriculture and food heritage.
- Museums, historical societies, and schools — May gain access to rare apple varieties for educational, historical, or cultural purposes, supporting public awareness of agricultural history.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
By identifying and propagating rare apple varieties—including those previously thought extinct—the program safeguards genetic biodiversity that could be critical for future disease resistance or climate adaptation in apple crops, protecting long-term food system resilience.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b); Sec. 2(1)(b)The program creates tangible educational opportunities for K–12 and university students to engage with agricultural history, genetics, and conservation—enhancing STEM learning through hands-on, locally relevant projects.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3); Sec. 2(1)(c)The registry of heritage orchards may help protect historic homesteads and small family orchards from being paved over for development, especially in rapidly growing regions like Snohomish or King counties, preserving cultural landscapes tied to residential property.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a); Sec. 2(2)(a)Small-scale nurseries, orchardists, and backyard growers may gain access to rare cultivars for propagation and sale, supporting micro-enterprises and local food heritage—especially beneficial for community orchards and heritage fruit projects.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(c); Sec. 2(2)(b)Documenting and preserving “lost apples” helps prevent permanent loss of unique genetic material, which could be vital if new pests or pathogens threaten dominant commercial varieties like Gala or Fuji—protecting long-term agricultural sustainability.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b); Sec. 2(1)(d)
Potential Concerns (4)
The 74-year tree age threshold for heritage orchard designation effectively excludes nearly all modern commercial orchards, limiting program relevance to large-scale apple growers who dominate Washington’s $2.2B apple industry; most commercial operations use younger, high-density planting systems and will not qualify.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2(2)(a)While propagation of rare apple cultivars may benefit niche growers, the program does not require WSU to assess market demand, distribution infrastructure, or economic viability—raising risk of surplus propagation without commercial uptake, potentially burdening small nurseries with unsold scionwood or rootstock.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(c)The bill imposes no reporting or compliance burden on counties or cities, but also provides no funding for local enforcement or verification of heritage orchard claims—potentially creating administrative ambiguity if local authorities are asked to assist in identification or mapping without resources.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)The bill relies on existing WSU resources or external funding, meaning success depends on competitive grant acquisition; if external funding falls short, the program may be under-resourced or inactive, leaving heritage orchards at risk regardless of legislative intent.
FinancialRef: Fiscal Impact (no appropriation mandated)
Who Is Most Affected
Family orchard owners with 5+ 74+-year-old trees or rare cultivars may gain recognition, technical support, and propagation assistance—but only if they know about the program and have capacity to engage with WSU.
WSU gains authority to lead a conservation program but faces no funding mandate—success hinges on external grants and internal reallocation of staff time, potentially diverting resources from other priorities.
Commercial growers may benefit from access to novel cultivars, but the program does not prioritize high-demand or market-viable varieties—most will see little direct impact unless they actively participate in propagation programs.
Museums, historical societies, and schools may receive scionwood or educational materials, but only if WSU prioritizes outreach—no enforceable access or delivery mechanism is specified in the bill.