Course Syllabus
Experiencing the tree fruit industry
AFS/HORT 402
Summer I 2026
Number of Credit Hours - 3
Prerequisites - N/A
Course Details
Day and Time: May 11-15, 2026
Meeting Location: Online and field trip to the central Washington state tree fruit growing area
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor Name: Lee Kalcsits
Instructor Contact Information: Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, 509-293-8764, lee.kalcsits@wsu.edu
Instructor Office Hours: Available via email or pre-arranged ZOOM meetings on weekdays 8 am - 5 pm.
Course Description
This field course introduces students to the tree fruit industry and future workforce opportunities. Throughout the course, participants will be exposed to many facets of the industry through farm tours, job shadows, interviews, and hands-on demonstrations. The curriculum covers an introduction to the central Washington tree fruit region and introductory vocabulary and processes of farming, from "farm to fork." Students will gain insights into seasonal tasks, and technical challenges for a variety of crops, that may include apples, cherries, pears, peaches, nectarines, and apricots; and learn of current career paths.
Students will be introduced to agricultural technology through in-field demonstrations, company visits, WSU Extension insights, and will complete a professional portfolio, including a resume, informational interviews, and key learnings from the experience. This course will include two pre-trip classes for orientation, a week long field trip, and a post-trip presentation and reflection.
Course Materials
Course material will be provided by the instructor. No external texts are required.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Recognize the diversity and complexity of the tree fruit industry in central Washington.
- Use appropriate vocabulary to explain key processes and seasonal tasks in modern fruit production.
- Explain observed practices and insights gained from farm visits, field activities, and industry interactions.
- Recognize and discuss current challenges and technological advancements in tree fruit production.
- Identify a range of employment opportunities within the tree fruit industry.
Course Schedule
|
Date |
Class Day |
Topic |
|
Pre-Trip Orientation |
||
|
4-May |
Monday |
(Virtual, 75 minutes) Introduction to the tree fruit industry. Introduction to class syllabus and portfolio. Develop a resume for sharing. |
|
6-May |
Wednesday |
(Virtual, 75 minutes) Introduction to key technologies and applications for the tree fruit industry. |
|
Field Experience |
||
|
11-May |
Monday |
Day 1: Introduction to the Central Washington Tree Fruit Industry • Overview of the central Washington region's history and its significance as a major tree fruit producer. • Visit a diversified orchard. Learn about the different types of tree fruit grown in the region (apples, cherries, pears, stone fruit). Hands-on session on basic tree anatomy and orchard layout. Visit a tree fruit nursery. Learn about the process of building a tree. Key Topic: From nursery to bloom to harvest. |
|
12-May |
Tuesday |
Day 2: The Business of Growing: Farm Operations • Farm Tour. Focus on seasonal tasks for different crops. Discussion on pruning, thinning, and irrigation techniques. • Job Shadowing. Split into small groups to shadow farm managers and workers. Learn about the day-to-day logistics of running a farm, including labor management and equipment maintenance. |
|
13-May |
Wednesday |
Day 3: Post-Harvest & Supply Chain • Packing House Tour. Follow the journey of fruit from the orchard to the packing line. Learn about fruit storage, sorting, grading, and packaging processes. Key Topic: Postharvest physiology, food safety and quality control. • Company Visit and Marketing. Meet with professionals in a marketing or distribution company. Gain insights into the "fork" side of the "farm to fork" process, including logistics, sales, and market trends. Visit the Washington Apple Commission who is responsible for advertising, promotion, education, and market development for the Washington fresh apple crop in international markets. |
|
14-May |
Thursday |
Day 4: Technology & The Future of Ag • Ag-Tech Showcase. In-field demonstrations of modern agricultural technologies. This may include precision sprayers, automated irrigation, crop load estimation, and harvest data collection tools. • WSU Extension Insights. A session with WSU Extension specialists. Discuss current research, pest management strategies, and new varieties of fruit. Explore the role of science in solving industry challenges. |
|
15-May |
Friday |
Day 5: Career Paths & Course Wrap-up • Professional Panel. A panel discussion with industry experts, including growers, agronomists, researchers, and business owners. Q&A session on career paths and necessary skills. • Return to Pullman |
|
Post-Trip Debriefing |
||
|
17-May |
Monday |
Portfolio presentations |
Expectations for Student Effort
Students will be expected to be present and engage in group learning and field experiences with industry professionals, WSU faculty, and other classmates for the full week. There will be time required before and after the field week for briefing and portfolio presentations.
Grading
All students begin the course with 100 points (an A grade). Students can maintain this A by completing all assignments on Canvas. Each assignment will be given a set number of points. If an assignment is not turned in the student is docked the prescribed points. If portions of the assignment are incorrect, then all or a portion of the points will be docked. Students can repeat assignments as many times as necessary to within a month of the original assigned date and regain all lost points.
| Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc) | Points | Percent of Overall Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-trip resume | 5 | 5 |
| Introduction to tree fruit technology | 10 | 10 |
| Guided reflections | 25 (5 per day) | 25 |
| Portfolio | 30 | 30 |
| Experiential field learning and participation | 30 | 30 |
| Grade | Percent | Grade | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A |
93+ |
C |
70-73.9 |
| A- |
90-92.9 |
C- |
66-69.9 |
| B+ |
86-89.9 |
D+ |
62-65.9 |
| B |
82-85.9 |
D |
58-61.9 |
| B- |
78-81.9 |
F |
0-57.9 |
| C+ |
74-77.9 |
Incomplete Grade Policy (Academic Rule 90h): Incompletes are granted only with permission of the instructor and are subject to the following guidelines:
- Students must request an incomplete in writing or by e-mail from the instructor before the end of the semester.
- The request must be signed and dated by the student (or identified by the student's e-mail address) and must explain the reasons behind the request for the incomplete.
- To be considered for an incomplete, there are two main conditions:
- A student must complete a minimum amount of the assigned course work. Specifically, a student must complete 75 percent of the course work.
- A student must have a mathematical possibility of passing the class. A passing grade is 60 percent or above for the entire course.
- If extraordinary circumstances (e.g., family emergency, serious illness) are involved and are documented to the instructor's satisfaction, the professor/ instructor retains the discretion to grant an incomplete even if the minimum conditions outlined in item 3 above are not met. If an incomplete is granted, the standard WSU policy applies (i.e., ALL work must be completed within one full year from the end of the enrollment semester at issue, unless a shorter time is specified by the instructor. Otherwise, an automatic grade of "F," or failing, will be entered on the student’s transcript).
Rounding of Grades: Grades will be rounded to the nearest whole number grade (e.g., 89.2 becomes 89 and 89.5 becomes 90).
Attendance and Make-Up Policy
Attendance: Attendance of this class is required for student success. Due to the applied nature of this course, absences because of illness, personal and/or family crises, mandated court appearances, university-approved events, or similar reasons may require withdrawal from the course.
Make-up: Students must complete pre-trip assignments to attend the trip. Opportunities for makeup can be accommodated but only prior to the trip. All final materials must be submitted by the last day of the course.
Academic Integrity Statement
You are responsible for reading WSU’s Academic Integrity Policy Links to an external site., which is based on Washington State law Links to an external site.. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:
- Fail the assignment/ course.
- Be reported to the Center for Community Standards Links to an external site..
- Have the right to appeal my decision.
- Not be able to drop the course or withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished.
If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.
If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form Links to an external site. at the Center for Community Standards Links to an external site. website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.
Please consult Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities Links to an external site. for more information.
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