Francisco Sarmiento Jr., a young grower from East Wenatchee, Washington
He’s a second-generation farmer and the son of Margarita and Francisco Sarmiento.
Beth Brown, a young grower from Waterport, New York
Beth grew up working with her grandfather, Harold Henry, on their family farm in Eden Valley, New York, and later graduated with a business degree from State University of New York at Oswego.
Kevin Shaw and Lance Davison, young growers from Vernon, British Columbia
Kevin Shaw, a first-generation farmer, grew up in Kenya and pursued an engineering degree. Lance Davison, a fourth-generation farmer, grew up in Vernon and focused on horticulture in college. Kevin married Lance’s sister, Laura. The family business includes parents, Tamra and Tom Davison, and grandparents, Dora and Bob Davison.
USApple’s Bair gives update on Farm Workforce Modernization Act — Video
Legislation passed in the the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Matt Haak, a young grower from Zillah, Washington
Matt is a second-generation tree fruit farmer in Washington’s Yakima Valley and pursued a
Lesley Tamura, a young grower from Hood River, Oregon
Lesley graduated from Western Oregon University with a teaching degree and taught for 10 years. She then returned to the family pear farm in 2016 to work alongside her parents, Jacquie Harrison and Gary Tamura.
Room to grow in Ontario
Expanding direct-sale opportunities starts with wide tree rows at Ontario farm.
Javier Valencia, a young grower from Sunnyside, Washington
Javier is a second-generation grower from Washington’s Yakima Valley. He works as the viticulturist for Brothers in Farms and is the son of Brenda Lee and Javier Ayala Valencia.
Hayden Dooney, a young grower from Simcoe, Ontario
Hayden grew up on a family farm in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. After traveling for work, he settled down in Simcoe, working for Norfolk Fruit Growers Association and buying his first orchard with his wife, Amanda.
Jaden and John Griggs, young growers from Orondo, Washington
family background/ Jaden and John are the fifth generation to work on the family farm. Jaden will attend the University of Montana, majoring in business, sales and marketing this fall, and John graduated from Wenatchee Valley College’s tree fruit program.