The International Fruit Tree Association gave awards during the winter conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in early March. Phil Brown, owner of Phil Brown Welding, Conklin, Michigan, won the Industry Service Award for his 35 years of providing innovative machines for the fruit industry. His latest creation, a vacuum harvester for fresh market apples, drew lots of attention on the IFTA tour to his facility. The company makes a line some 35 products, including the Brownie man-positioning machine for pruning. Known as the man who could fix anything, he began his career serving fruit growers on Fruit Ridge northwest of […]