This month, Good Fruit Grower welcomes a new associate editor, Matt Milkovich, who will expand our coverage of the Eastern U.S. fruit regions from his base in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

As the former editor of Fruit Growers News, where he worked for 12 years, Milkovich brings a depth of experience in the fruit industry and the perspective from east of the Mississippi.

He joins the magazine from MH Insider, the trade publication for the manufactured housing industry, where he served as managing editor, but prior to that he worked at his alma mater, Michigan State University.

“I’m excited to write about the fruit industry again,” he said. “And I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of Dick Lehnert.”

Lehnert, an award-winning Michigan agriculture journalist, covered the Eastern regions for Good Fruit Grower from 2010 until 2015, when he passed away at age 72. Milkovich said he always enjoyed working with Lehnert, both at Fruit Growers News and covering industry events together.

“Matt’s experience and existing relationships in our industry make him the perfect candidate to join our team and strengthen our coverage in the East,” said Managing Editor Shannon Dininny. “We’re excited for him to hit the ground running.”

Milkovich is married with two young children and, in his spare time, enjoys exploring the Great Lakes and finding quiet time to read.

Look for his coverage of the U.S. Apple Association’s Apple Outlook in our upcoming October issue.

—Kate Prengaman