Jim Koempel, an orchardist at Cashmere, Washington, has been named Apple Citizen of the Year by the Washington Apple Blossom Festival. The Apple Citizen of the Year award has been presented annually since 1981 to honor industry leaders. The recipient is selected by a group of apple industry representatives. Koempel grew up on a family farm at Tieton, Washington, and graduated from Washington State University in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education. His first job was as a vocational agriculture and wood shop teacher at Cashmere High School. He and his wife bought their first ten acres of […]