WHITESTONE MOUNTAIN ORCHARD

Tonasket, Washington

By Terri Schmidt, Co-op volunteer writer

Claire Lichtenfels and Hal Jackson are passionate about their wonderful organic orchard, Whitestone Mountain Orchard, located 15 minutes from the Canadian border in Tonasket, Washington – population 1200. Being so remote brings some challenges, but it’s a beautiful area and the farm helps the town by providing good jobs in picking and packing fruit.

Claire’s father, Ted Lichtenfels, purchased the orchard in 1990. At that time, the 25-year-old orchard only had Golden and Red Delicious apple trees. Ted made the innovative move to plant Gala apple trees on semi dwarfing rootstock. Claire and Hal have fifteen varieties of apples currently growing in their orchard, including the unusual Ashmead’s Kernel, Herefordshire Redstreaks, Roxbury Russet, Bulmer’s Norman, and Stayman apples. They also grow three varieties of pears and currents.

Claire said she appreciates businesses like the Moscow Food Co-op “who really emphasize how good your food tastes over how it looks.” She offered Golden Russets as an example of an apple that may be a bit ugly but tastes delicious.

Claire gained experience in organic farming when working with Brad Jaeckel at the WSU Organic Farm, growing for Backyard Harvest and working with biodynamic farmers in New Zealand. She is very invested in regenerative methods of production. Hal shared how they use pest/disease management and fertility practices that work together to promote a biodiverse ecosystem. Claire analyzes tree leaves frequently to monitor what nutrients are missing and responds to that before it causes problems. They apply foliar sprays of kelp, unprocessed crab and shrimp shell and micronutrients that address specific needs. Claire said their practices “increase the biodiversity of the soil and the microbes that do the work of keeping the trees healthy. The healthy trees then feed the soil. It is a circle of life with constant communication between the tree roots and the microbes.”

Hal discussed the challenges of middle farms. Small organic farms have less overhead and large agribusiness farms have more acreage – making it easier for both to make a profit. Middle sized farms, like their 80 acre orchard, are caught somewhere in between and have to work harder to succeed. The couple have pivoted to direct marketing, hiring drivers to deliver their fruit to various places in the northwest. They are also creating new products for their customers including a juice line featuring family apple juices and hard ciders. They grow varieties of apples, like Kingston Blacks, specifically suited to ciders.

Whitestone Mountain Orchard also participate in the “Farm to School” program. They direct market to school districts, including Pullman and Mead schools, providing organic apples at a price that works for both the orchard and the schools. Hal said, “Everyone should have access to food that is good for you.”

Hal and Claire have four children. Currently, their two boys help with the orchard, one daughter is going to law school and another daughter is in medical school. Their son, Simon, and son-in-law, Skylar, are definitely interested in continuing to work the orchard. So “succession is the plan” when Claire and Hal retire. They are dedicated to keeping the orchard dynamic for the next generation of organic growers.

Whitestone Mountain Orchard also sells fruit online. Check out their website to learn more: https://whitestonemountainorchard.com