Don Olmstead named Cherry King
Don was one of the first orchardists in Washington to plant Rainier cherries in the 1970s. He now sells them via the Internet.
Melissa Hansen
Third-generation Grandview, Washington, orchardist Don Olmstead, Jr., who was crowned 2003 Cherry King at the recent 61st annual meeting of the Cherry Institute held in Yakima, Washington, represents what the crown has come to symbolize-tradition and excellence.
The Cherry King crown, worn by 58 past Pacific Northwest cherry industry members, dates back to 1945 when A.E. Penney of Naches, Washington, was the first king. The crown, at one time made of cardboard covered in gold foil, has been passed down through decades of committed Pacific Northwest cherry growers and worn by some of the most respected and prominent people in the cherry industry.
Olmstead shares the common thread of dedication and contributions to the cherry industry with the long list of kings who preceded him.
The Olmstead family began farming in Washington's Yakima Valley in 1918 when grandparents Fred and Alpha moved to Grandview and bought a cherry orchard and home.
Don, Jr., didn't initially join his father, Don, Sr., on the family orchard after he graduated from Washington State University (WSU) with a horticultural degree. He first worked for the transportation department, designing landscape for highway interchanges. He eventually returned to the family farm in the early 1970s to farm with his father and later his brother Peter.
Father-son team
Today, Don, Jr., and his son Don III, who recently graduated from WSU, run Olmstead Orchards. The father-son team grows cherries, apples, pears, prunes, and plums on about 200 acres, with cherries as the main crop65 acres of Bings and 65 acres of Rainiers.
According to B.J. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission, Don, Jr., was one of the first in Washington to plant blush-colored Rainier cherries in the 1970s.
"Don believed they were too good to be put in a can," Thurlby said as he presented the award. "He was one of the first to venture into field packing of fresh Rainiers, and he worked with his crews to develop methods to pick and handle the fruit gently to prevent bruising."
Don, Jr., is known within the Northwest fruit industry as one who shares knowledge and information with fellow orchardists and has opened his orchards for many field days and tours. He's also traveled extensively across the country to convince retailers of the quality of Northwest cherries. Last summer, the Olmsteads began selling fresh cherries on-line directly to consumers through their Olmstead Orchards Web site.
An active industry member, he has served on the Fruit Commission's board of directors as president and as a director for 24 years and is a past president of the Cherry Institute. He's also an active member of the Yakima Valley growers' cooperative Snokist Growers and a member of the Grandview Planning Commission.
