Bill Evans (Courtesy Evans Fruit Co.)

Bill Evans (Courtesy Evans Fruit Co.)

Bill Evans, co-founder and president of Evans Fruit Co., died early Tuesday morning. He was 87. His death was confirmed to the Yakima Herald-Republic by his daughter, Vicki Loges.

Founded in 1949, Evans Fruit started with a 10-acre apple orchard on Naches Heights, near Yakima, Washington.

In 1959, the company built its first packing facility for its then 60-acre operation.

Bill Evans, along with his wife and company co-founder, Jeannette, expanded the operation to more than 9,000 acres today, including what the company bills as the two largest apple orchards in Washington state.