gfg-portraits-melissaMelissa Hansen joined the Good Fruit Grower team as associate editor in 1996 and provided editorial stories for all fruit, but in particular, the Pacific Northwest grape industry.

She moved with her family to Ellensburg, Washington, in 1995 after spending nearly 15 years in Fresno representing California tree fruit and grape growers and shippers in state and federal issues.

She received an agricultural journalism degree in 1980 from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and is a member of Class XVII of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. In 2008, she received a women’s leadership award from the Washington State Horticultural Association.

Melissa grew up in the beef industry, working in her family’s feedlot and custom meat locker. As a youth, she enjoyed raising market sheep and steers for 4-H and FFA projects and continued that passion as a sheep 4-H leader for more than 10 years in Washington’s Kittitas County.

Melissa Hansen joined the Washington Wine Commission to manage its research program in 2015.

Read her stories: Story Index

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