Long before organic farming practices were widespread in the agricultural industry, LaPierre Farms in Central Washington was experimenting with nontraditional growing methods.

In fact, Mark and Marnita LaPierre have been growing fruit for so long that their low U.S. Department of Agriculture organic certification number puts them among the state’s earliest adopters.

The couple’s daughter, Lauren — the company’s marketing and operations manager — said having such a low certification number speaks to the family’s decades-long passion for organic growing.

“We didn’t just jump on the train; we’ve been doing this forever,” she said. “My dad started organic farming back in 1985, before it was considered ‘cool’ or ‘trendy.’ He’s really proud of that accomplishment, and it has become one of our biggest selling points.”

LaPierre Farms sits on approximately 310 acres in the Rattlesnake Hills region of the Yakima Valley, growing an expansive variety of fruit, including apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, cherries, blueberries and wine grapes. 

While their customers appreciate each of the family’s produce offerings, blueberries have gradually become their signature crop.

“Blueberries are really big for us,” said Lauren, whose older brother, Garrett, is the lead grower. “Back when we first started growing them, people told my dad that they wouldn’t do very well in this area. But we’ve actually seen the opposite.”

The LaPierres sell most of their fruit wholesale, with the bulk of their business coming from corporate accounts with PCC Community Markets of Issaquah, Wash., and the Organically Grown Company (OGC) of Portland. They also have various buyers in California and Minnesota.

“Our success has always been about building and maintaining relationships,” Lauren said. “We are looking at some expansion opportunities locally, but our longtime customers have provided us with a pretty solid base.”

Like their customers, the family’s workforce of about three dozen employees has been extremely loyal over the past four decades, with many of them spending 20-plus years in the orchards around Zillah and Granger. 

As farm labor becomes harder to find every year, the LaPierres have gone out of their way to create and maintain a family atmosphere with their crews.

“Some of the workers remember me from when I was 5 years old, which is kind of fun,” said Lauren, who is now 27. “We have great retention, and we really pride ourselves on that.”

Another point of pride for the LaPierres is their organic winery, which just celebrated its second anniversary in February. When the family purchased a nearby vineyard in 2017, they didn’t plan on branching out into the wine business. But it didn’t take long for them to realize the potential of opening a boutique winery in the esteemed Rattlesnake Hills AVA.

“It’s such a great climate for growing that it only made sense,” Lauren said.

With a number of award-winning varietals and majestic views of the valley, LaPierre Farms Winery is quickly becoming a destination along the Yakima Valley’s well-traveled wine tourism route.

“The winery has been a great way for us to get our name out there, and it also gives us a chance to showcase our organic philosophy,” Lauren said. “We are one of the last remaining family farms around, and we are always looking to share our story.”

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This story was originally published in the Capital Press newspaper in April 2025.