Washington also ranked second in the nation in production of fall potatoes, nectarines, apricots, grapes, sweet corn for processing, and summer onions.
The apple industry is of particular importance to Washington. Because of the favorable climate of dry, warm summers and cold winters of central Washington, the state has led the U.S. in apple production since the 1920s. Two areas account for the vast majority of the state’s apple crop: the Wenatchee–Okanogan region and the Yakima region. Washington produces 7 principal varieties of apples which are exported to over 60 countries worldwide.
Wine:
Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine, behind only California. By 2006, the state had over 31,000 acres of vineyards, a harvest of 120,000 short tons of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the state’s 600 wineries.
Transportation:
Roadways:
Washington has a system of state highways, called State Routes. The state highways incorporate an extensive network of bridges to serve transportation needs in the Puget Sound area. Washington is home to four of the five longest floating bridges in the world: the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge and Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge over Lake Washington, and the Hood Canal Bridge which connects the Olympic Peninsula and Kitsap Peninsula.
Washington is also home to Interstates 5, 82, and 90.
Ferries:
Washington has an extensive ferry system which is the largest in the nation and the third largest in the world. There are extensive waterways in the midst of Washington’s largest cities, including Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and Olympia.
Washington’s marine highway constitutes a fleet of twenty-eight ferries that navigate Puget Sound and its inland waterways to 20 different ports of call, completing close to 147,000 sailings each year.
Air:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the major commercial airport of greater Seattle.
Other airports featuring commercial service include:
- Bellingham BLI Bellingham International Airport
- Friday Harbor FHR Friday Harbor Airport
- Pasco PSC Tri-Cities Airport
- Pullman PUW Pullman/Moscow Regional Airport
- Spokane GEG Spokane International Airport
- Walla Walla ALW Walla Walla Regional Airport
- Wenatchee EAT Pangborn Memorial Airport
- Yakima YKM Yakima Air Terminal
- Eastsound ORS Orcas Island Airport
Sea:
Washington has a number of seaports on the Pacific Ocean, including Seattle, Tacoma, Kalama, Anacortes, Vancouver, Longview, Greys County, Olympia, and Port Angeles.
Rail:
Amtrak’s passenger Cascade route between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, BC is the eighth busiest Amtrak service in the US. The Coast Starlight runs between Seattle and Portland to Los Angeles. The Empire Builder comes in from Chicago.
Flag of Washington:
The state flag of Washington consists of the state seal, displaying an image of state namesake George Washington, on a field of dark green with gold fringe being optional. It is the only U.S. state flag with a field of green as well as the only state flag with the image of an American president.