People

Manuel Vargas, a young grower from Jardín, Colombia

2024-04-26T10:38:52-07:00April 26th, 2024|Apples, May 1st 2024 Issue, TJ Mullinax, Videos, Young Grower|

Manuel grew up on a coffee farm and graduated with a degree from Universidad de Antioquia in Colombia. He’s the first in his family to grow tree fruit. He is now working for Joe Rasch Orchards, in Sparta, Michigan and is married to Katie (Rasch) Vargas and is the son of Ligia Marin and Gabriel Vargas.

Patrick and Haley Colbert, young growers from Tonasket, Washington

2024-03-14T10:22:43-07:00March 14th, 2024|Apples, March 15th 2024 Issue, Pears, TJ Mullinax, Videos, Young Grower|

Spouses Haley and Patrick are both third-generation apple and pear growers who each graduated from Washington State University: Haley with a degree in accounting and Patrick with a degree in agricultural technology management. Haley’s parents are Belinda and Gary Grillo and Patrick’s are Rhonda and Raymond Colbert.