ADVERTISEMENT
Together on tour – Gallery
2017 IFTA road trips to remember
Grunenfelder moves to FDA
Laura Grunenfelder Laura Grunenfelder has accepted a new position as a consumer safety
Brett Grobe, a Young Grower from Elyria, Ohio
family background / Brett is a sixth-generation fruit and vegetable grower in northern
Growers, packers meet with lawmakers
Members of the Washington Apple Commission and Columbia Fruit Packers were among a group of
Castagnoli named director of Mid-Columbia Research Center
He's been with center for almost 17 years.
Lacey Lybeck, a young grower from Pasco, Washington
family background/ Lacey grew up working alongside her family on their farm Hulbert
Dillon Luebber, a young grower from Malaga, Washington
family background / Dillon was raised southeast of Wenatchee, Washington, along the Columbia
AgForestry to graduate 38th leadership class
AgForestry's 38th leadership class. AgForestry announced the graduation in April of its 38th
Alfredo Jeronimo, a young grower from Wenatchee, Washington
Alfredo grew up working in orchards alongside his father. After starting a family, Alfredo followed his interests in the packing side of the industry and is currently pursuing goals in orchard management.
Blazing a trail for female growers
International Fruit Tree Association launches women’s group to provide education, mentorship.
Three growers elected to Washington Apple board
Mark Stennes, James Foreman and Jon Alegria were elected to three-year terms as members of
Kurt Schlect, 1954-2017
Kurt Don Schlect, a lifelong grower in the Yakima Valley, passed away Feb. 5 at the
Chris Oakes, Young Grower from Lyndonville, New York
family background/ Chris is a fourth-generation farmer who works with many of his
Arkansas fruit breeder Moore dies at 85
Jim Moore Jim Moore, a longtime fruit breeder, who was influential in the
Washington grower and packer Gary W. Hansen dies at 73
Gary W. Hansen, the former president of Hansen Fruit and Cold Storage of Yakima, Washington,
Ariane Stechmann, Young Grower from Hamburg, Germany
family background / Ariane is the oldest of four siblings who make up
New hires at UC Davis and Washington State
New leader of UC Davis postharvest center Trevor Suslow Food safety expert Trevor
Bruce Zahn, 1925-2016
Bruce A. Zahn, a prominent grower who lived in Bridgeport, Washington, passed away December 9,
Grape Society presents its annual awards
The Washington State Grape Society presented three industry awards at the annual meeting in November
Nick Ferrari, Young Grower from Linden, California
family background/ Fourth-generation farmer in the San Joaquin Valley. Nick has volunteered with
Coastal California apple growers hold on through relationship with Martinelli’s
Noah Gizdich walks through the north part of the family ranch in Watsonville, California,
The GMO apple has arrived
“It’s not going away,” says Neal Carter of Okanagan Specialty Fruit.
Trinka, Veliquettes honored at Great Lakes Expo
Dave Trinka is presented with a distinguished service award from Michigan State Horticultural Society
Washington horticulturalist Fred Valentine dies
Fred Valentine in a 2015 file photo. (Geraldine Warner/Good Fruit Grower) Fred Valentine, a
WSTFA annual meeting — Wednesday wrapup
Hermann Thoennissen: Get the stakeholders together, develop a farm transition plan and be consistent
WSTFA honors industry leaders at annual meeting
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association bestowed several awards for service to the industry at
Industry giant Bill Evans dies
Bill Evans (Courtesy Evans Fruit Co.) Bill Evans, co-founder and president of Evans
A succession story: 2016 Growers of the year
Bill and Mark Zirkle credit teamwork for company’s growth and fruitful legacy.
Diversity wins: 2016 Growers of the year
Blueberries, wine grapes are among Zirkle Fruit’s most recent endeavors.
Washington State hires tree fruit extension specialist
Rob Blakey, shown here in a Pasco, Washington, orchard, specializes in postharvest issues. (TJ
Jesus Ramos, Young Grower from Royal City, Washington
family background/ Jesus, son of Javier and Irma Ramos, is the first in
Pierre Paradis, Young Grower from Silverton, Oregon
family background / Pierre is the son of Peter and Donna Paradis, who
Washington Winemakers Mike Wallace and Scott Pontin, RIP
Two prominent Washington State winemakers have died in recent days. The Yakima Herald reports that
Monica Libbey, Young Grower from Manson, Washington
family background/ Both sides of Monica’s family have long histories farming in the
Canadian bee expert joins OSU
Andony Melathopoulos, Extension pollinator specialist, watches honey bees at OSU's Oak Creek Center for
Central Washington pear grower innovates, adapts
Rudy Prey of Leavenworth, Washington, does things with his pear trees that not all, or even most growers, do.
Jared Gidley, Young Grower from Parkdale, Oregon
Jared is a first-generation farmer who worked several orchard jobs growing up in Parkdale, Oregon.
WSTFA fills two key positions
Jacqui Gordon Nunez has been named director of education and member services at the Washington
Dorothy Plath, of Yakima and Washington Fruit and Produce, age 91
Our condolences to the family of the late Dorothy Plath, who died July 31 at
Devon Newhouse, Young Grower from Sunnyside, Washington
Devon’s family started out raising cattle in the Yakima Valley, then moved into hops, tree fruit and grapes.
Growers lay out future of family farm with succession plan
Generations to follow
Newhouse named chair of national wine grape association
Todd Newhouse of Outlook, Washington, has been elected chairman of the Winegrape Growers of America.
James Claar Whitelatch, a young grower from Pasco, Washington
James manages the wine grape crops on the family’s estate in the White Bluffs region of central Washington. He works alongside his brother John, and parents, Bob and Crista Whitelatch.
Suzanne Niemann, a young grower from Yakima, Washington
family background / Suzanne’s love of agriculture grew out of her interest in
Changes at Oregon State extension center
Dr. Peter Shearer has resigned as entomologist at Oregon State University’s Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and
Neil Garrison, a young grower from Sunnyside, Washington
family background / Neil studied business and worked with the National Oceanic and
Time to say goodbye for Mimi Nye
Canoe Ridge Estate manager Mimi Nye retires after 35 years with Chateau Ste. Michelle.
Tree fruit industry awards $1 million in scholarships
The Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF) has reached a milestone of awarding $1 million in
Paul Bavaro, a young grower from Escalon, California
Paul is a fourth-generation peach grower who’s been working with his father, Frank, on mechanization trials to help reduce labor costs and improve fruit quality.