Interest in organic apple production began in 2003 with the Pennsylvania Regional Organic Fruit Transition task force (PROFIT) and in 2004, an organic apple demonstration plot was established. Since then, ongoing research whose objectives were to evaluate alternative materials to suppress some of the major apple diseases was conducted in field and laboratory trials (see progress reports). Information from these research trials will help provide basic knowledge for the organic control of plant diseases. The next step was to apply this knowledge to organic apple production.

On July 12, 2006, as a result of a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Pennsylvania Certified Organic, and the Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center, the first science-based organic apple production field day was held. This all day program was divided up into two categories: Presentations for growers new to organic apple production and presentations for experienced organic apple growers. Many topics by Penn State Researches were discussed. Some inculded:

Orchard Planning and Site Preparation -Tara Baugher
Mineral Nutrition Management for Organic Fruit Production - Jim Schupp
Scab Resistant Apple Cultivars - Rob Crassweller
Insect Management in Organic Apple Orchards - Greg Krawczyk
Insect Spray Program in an Organic Apple Block - Greg Krawczyk
Biological Control in Agriculture - Dave Biddinger
Understanding and Using Sex Pheromones in Organic Production of Tree Fruits - Larry Hull
Organic Tree Fruit Certification -James Travis, Noemi Halbrendt
Organic Disease Management - James Travis and All
Genetic Approaches - Tim McNellis
Population Biology of the Apple Scab Pathogen - Maria Jimenez Gasco