The classic Red Delicious, which established Washington state's reputation in the apple business and made growers prosperous, is no longer a favorite with consumers. The old standby has lost its luster.
Shoppers know that the shiny beauty is prone to a tough hide and mushy insides.
Finally, growers are looking beyond the Red Delicious to other varieties, including Fuji and Cameo. Competition from apples grown in Chile, Australia, New Zealand and most recently, China, is a big part of growers' economic reality. A measure of financial aid is coming from the federal government with the industry's first-ever bailout. Still, the most resilient growers, those producing tasty apples and experimenting with new varieties will survive. Apples thrived as a healthy snack until they started to disappoint.