With plenty of sun (ranked #34 for Weather in the nation) and productive land, Wenatchee is in the fruit belt of the Pacific Northwest. It all started in1908, when farmer Mike Horan showed off the local produce at the National Apple Show in Spokane. More than a century later, the apple industry has consolidated under larger growers, but innovative vineyards, wineries and a host of organic growers are driving agricultural tourism locally like never before. Helping their cause was the 2013 opening of the not-for-profit Pybus Public Market in town, today a cornucopia of specialty-food vendors and restaurants, in addition to the weekly farmers’ Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market that runs from May through October with more than 20 vendors and live music on Fridays. Adding to the rural appeal is the presence of a local ski hill, Mission Ridge, accessible from town in under 30 min. The agricultural industry also draws many workers from Latin America and elsewhere and gives this small city a diversity not seen in others its size. Wenatchee ranks #22 in our Foreign Born subcategory.