PROSSER, Wash. -- Washington State University's Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center near Prosser will benefit from a $75,000 donation for tree fruit research by Yakima's H.R. Spinner Corp.

The produce packaging distributor wants to support the development of an acre of research orchard at the Prosser center and two acres at WSU's Sunrise Research Orchard near Wenatchee.

"This investment helps to move us closer to completion of what really are the living laboratories for our scientists and students," said Jay Brunner, director of WSU's Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center at Wenatchee, in a news release.

H.R. Spinner President Ed Jewett said in a news release that the company's gift is aimed at supporting the entire tree fruit industry.