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Blueberry councils hire Joe Vargas as director of business intelligence
Joe Vargas has been hired as the director of business intelligence for the U.S. Highbush
Connor Duim, a young grower from Zillah, Washington
Connor graduated from Wenatchee Valley College with a degree in sustainable agriculture. He’s the son of Sheryl and Mike Duim.
Jutsely Rivera, a young grower from Moxee, Washington
Jutsely is a second-generation farmer who earned an environmental studies and chemistry degree from Gonzaga University. She’s the daughter of Ana Valenzuela and Jose Rivera.
Wafla hires CEO, communications director
Wafla, a nonprofit farm labor association based in Lacey, Washington, has named Enrique “Rick” Gastelum
Wendy Powers named WSU ag dean
Wendy Powers Wendy Powers of the University of California has been named the next dean
CIAB names Heather Weber new executive director
The Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB), the tart cherry industry’s federal marketing order, has named
Johanny Castro Chinchilla, a young grower from San José, Costa Rica
Johanny grew up working on a coffee farm and earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and a master’s degree in crop protection from the University of Costa Rica. He’s the son of Marea Elisa Chinchilla and Gerardo Castro.
Desmond Samples, a young grower from Washington’s Tri-Cities area
Desmond is the first generation of his immediate family in agriculture and has been working at Fidélitas Wines while attending school at Washington State University. He is the son of Joella and Cedric Samples.
Bruce Hollabaugh: 1980–2022
Pennsylvania grower leaves a lasting legacy.
Kyle R. Benner, a young grower from Fairfield, Pennsylvania
Kyle is a fourth-generation grower, packer and shipper who returned to the farm about six years ago. He’s married to Kelli and is the son of Pam and Dave Benner.
Benjamin Keim, a young grower from Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Benjamin is a fifth-generation grower who graduated from Penn State University and is the past president of the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania. He’s the son of Marie and Richard Keim.
Russel Gleason: 1929–2022
Russel Scott Gleason, longtime Yakima Valley orchardist, died Feb. 6. Russel Gleason According to an
Edgar Camacho, a young grower from Yakima, Washington
Edgar is a second-generation grower who earned an associate degree in business from Columbia Basin College. He is the son of Alma Rosa and Gustavo Camacho
Industry awards cap WineVit conference
Todd Newhouse, owner of Upland Vineyards, receives the Erick Hanson Memorial Winegrape Grower of the
Northwest Horticultural Council welcomes new technical communications manager
The Northwest Horticultural Council has hired Dan Langager as its new technical communications manager. For
Lorenzo Pacini III, a young grower from Ukiah, California
Lorenzo graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in viticulture and grows Zinfandel in the Talmage Bench. He is the son of Lorie and Allen Pacini, and his family has been growing grapes in the Mendocino Valley since 1911.
Washington Apple Education Foundation hires new executive director
Faviola Barbosa The Washington Apple Education Foundation announced in a news release the hiring of
Juan Munguía, a young grower from Mattawa, Washington
uan earned his bachelor’s degree in soil science from Oregon State University and is currently pursuing his graduate degree in horticulture. Juan is the son of Maria and Serafin Munguia.
California Association of Winegrape Growers President John Aguirre to step down
John Aguirre The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) announced in a news release the
Eleanor (Ellie) Rice, a young grower from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Ellie is an eighth-generation grower who graduated from Juniata College with a major in community conflict and change, and she now manages her family company’s human resources department and H-2A program. She’s the daughter of Katherine and Mark Rice.
Michigan hort society awards distinguished service
The Michigan State Horticultural Society gave out two Distinguished Service Awards during the 2021 Great
Washington tree fruit industry honors standouts
The tree fruit industry, holding an awards banquet for the first time in two years,
Aylin Moreno, a young grower from the Tri-Cities, Washington
Aylin is a first-generation farmer, graduated from Washington State University and obtained a master’s degree from University of Washington. She is the daughter of Sandra Espinoza and Hugo Moreno.
Learning from the ground up: 2021 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
A relentless search for innovative ideas and industry contributions make Mike Robinson the 2021 Good Fruit Grower of the Year.
Apple industry growing young leaders
USApple program has its eye on the future.
Wisconsin teen growing a fruitful future
Teen's unusual passion for grafting and growing opens doors to the tree fruit industry.
Grape Society gathers to discuss pests, production and honor industry leaders
See that price spike? At the Washington State Grape Society annual meeting, Trent Ball, the
Washington Apple Education Foundation announces 2021 volunteer honorees
The Washington Apple Education Foundation, while celebrating and giving thanks this month for the hundreds
Justin Lyon, a young grower from Prosser, Washington
Justin graduated from Columbia Basin College and Washington State University and manages vineyards in the Yakima Valley and Red Mountain AVAs. He’s married to Brianne Holden-Boushey and is the son of Susan and Michael Lyon.
WSU hires Frank Zhao as plant pathology endowed chair
Frank Zhao Washington State University has hired a bacterial plant pathologist to fill an empty
Jennifer Witherbee to step down from Washington Apple Education Foundation
Jennifer Witherbee The Washington Apple Education Foundation announced in a news release its executive director,
Blueberry council honors Bernadine Strik
Bernadine Strik, a veteran horticulture professor and berry crop specialist at Oregon State University, has
Blueberry councils hire Leslie Wada as nutrition research director
Leslie Wada Leslie Wada, a longtime blueberry research consultant has been hired as the senior
Cody Ashurst, a young grower from Hopland, California
Cody is a fourth-generation farmer in the Mendocino valley and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in agribusiness. He’s the son of Kurt Ashurst and is married to Tatianna Ashurst.
Larry Gut: 1954–2021
Larry Gut Longtime Michigan State University professor Lawrence “Larry” Gut died Sept. 6 in Wenatchee,
Dee Schoenmakers: 1956–2021
Dee Schoenmakers Denise “Dee” Schoenmakers, 65, died Aug. 28 following a brief illness. She was
Dianna Sanchez, a young grower from Chelan, Washington
Dianna graduated from Washington State University with a degree in fruit and vegetable management and works as a technical support agronomist with Stemilt Growers. She is the daughter of Claudia Hernandez and Carlos Sanchez.
John Carter: 1946–2021
John Carter, a longtime cherry grower in The Dalles, Oregon, and former Good Fruit Grower
Jim Koempel: 1945–2021
Longtime orchardist Jim Koempel died July 26 at his home in Dryden, Washington, following a
Cody LaRiviere, a young grower from Yakima, Washington
Cody graduated from Washington State University with a degree in tree fruit and vegetable management and manages blocks in Quincy, Washington. He’s the son of Kelli and Randy LaRiviere and is married to Ashley LaRiviere.
WSU’s Tom Collins named ASEV president
Tom Collins, assistant professor at the Washington State University Wine Science Center, has been confirmed
Danae Yount and Cherie Steinmetz, young growers from the Yakima Valley, Washington
Cherie and Danae are new tree fruit growers with their brothers, Trevor and Taylor Perrault. Both graduated from Central Washington University and are daughters of Tina and Tim Perrault.
Drew Lyon named interim chair of WSU department of crop and soil sciences
Drew Lyon Drew Lyon, Washington State University’s endowed chair in small grains extension and research,
Michigan Apple Committee elects new officers
The Michigan Apple Committee’s board of directors recently elected a new chair and vice chair
Jeff Middleton, a young grower from Franklin County, Washington
Jeff is a third-generation grower farming north of Pasco, Washington. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Idaho with a degree in business and finance. Jeff is married to Tracey and is the son of Ellen and Jim Middleton.
Koenig named interim dean for WSU CAHNRS
Rich Koenig Rich Koenig has been named interim dean of the College of Agricultural, Human,
Legacy of education inspires new scholarship in memory of Albert Don
Albert Don, longtime vineyard operations manager for Wyckoff Farms. (Courtesy Chuck Wyckoff) In April, the
Hoard hired as new regional marketing manager for Pear Bureau Northwest
Michele Hoard Pear Bureau Northwest, a nonprofit marketing organization promoting fresh pears grown in Washington
Riley Miller, a young grower in the Yakima Valley, Washington
Riley is a first-generation grower who obtained a degree in integrated plant sciences with a specialization in viticulture and enology from Washington State University. He is the vineyard manager of Elephant Mountain Vineyards and the son of Linda Hodge and Tom Miller.
Ag engineer Lav Khot to lead WSU’s AgWeatherNet
Lav Khot Washington State University announced that professor Lav Khot will serve as interim director