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Individual and alumni volunteers recognized by Washington Apple Education Foundation
The Washington Apple Education Foundation, WAEF, presented the nonprofit’s 2020 Individual Volunteer of the Year
Karen Lewis named director for WSU Extension’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Unit
After more than 30 years working with tree fruit growers as an extension specialist in
David Bittner, a young grower from Appleton, New York
David is a second-generation farmer who grows fruit along Lake Ontario and who graduated with a degree in agriculture system management from Purdue University. He is the son of Margo and Jim Bittner.
Juan Ojeda, a young grower from Royal City, Washington
Juan is a second-generation tree fruit farmer who recently joined Simplot Growers. He’s the son of Celina and Juan Ojeda.
Fletcher Hukari, a young grower from Hood River, Oregon
Fletcher is a fourth-generation farmer who graduated from the University of Utah. He’s the son of Tami and Brian Hukari.
Fruit breeder David Cain honored for industry contributions
David Cain The American Pomological Society awarded the 2020 Wilder Medal, its highest honor, to
Crystal Aguilar, a young grower from Zillah, Washington
Crystal is a second-generation farmer who grew up in the Yakima Valley and originally pursued teaching before joining her brother, Tony Mendoza, with Haak Administrative Services. She is married to Jesus Aguilar and is the daughter of Trinidad and Elieser Mendoza.
Meghan Swain named executive director for Cherry Industry Administrative Board
The Cherry Industry Administrative Board announced in a news release that Meghan Swain has been
Jim Wade, 1926–2020
Jim Wade Jim Wade, former head of Columbia Fruit Packers and a partner in Columbia
Richard “Dick” Symms, 1935–2020
Richard “Dick” Symms Richard “Dick” Symms, patriarch of the Caldwell, Idaho, Symms Fruit Ranch, died
Dave Puglia to serve on Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced the appointment
Christopher Gerlach to join USApple as director of industry analytics
Christopher Gerlach The U.S. Apple Association announced Christopher Gerlach will join the organization as director
Kyle Rasch, a young grower from Conklin, Michigan
Kyle is a fifth-generation famer in the West-central Michigan region. He was part of USApple’s Young Apple Leaders program, obtained a business degree from Grand Rapids Community College and is the son of Sue and Chuck Rasch.
Chad Kruger to oversee WSU’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center
Chad Kruger Chad Kruger has been named the next director of Washington State University’s Tree
Maureen O’Callaghan, a young grower from Ephrata, Washington
Maureen graduated from Walla Walla Community College’s viticulture and enology program and joined Shaw Vineyards as a viticulturist in 2018. She is the daughter of Carol and John O’Callaghan.
Alicia Abendroth, a young grower from Wolcott, New York
Alicia grew up in Lower Saxony, Germany, and attended Geisenheim University before transferring to Cornell University to pursue her undergraduate degree in plant sciences.
Wine Foundation elects new board members
The Washington Wine Industry Foundation announced in a news release the election of Erik McLaughlin,
Joel Carter, a young grower from Summerland, British Columbia
Joel went to University of British Columbia, focusing on economics, and returned to the family farm, eventually buying his own land. He’s the son of Louisa and Neal Carter.
Washington Winegrowers Association elects board and officers
Becca de Kleine and Carrie Arredondo were elected to the board of directors of the
Brittany Komm, a young grower from East Wenatchee, Washington
Brittany is the senior viticulturist — also known as the “grape lady” — at Precept Wine Brands. She obtained her graduate degree at Washington State University.
Cliff Plath, 1955–2020
Yakima grower and philanthropist died April 11.
Jose Garcia, a young grower from Wenatchee, Washington
Jose was born in Mexico and grew up next to the farm his family worked on in Wenatchee. He pursued agriculture at Wenatchee Valley College and Washington State University and is currently an assistant ranch manager in Quincy. Jose is the son of Anita and Juan Garcia.
Herbie Annala, a young grower from Hood River, Oregon
Herbie returned to the family farm with his wife, Dani Annala, after working as a metal fabricator in Portland, Oregon. He’s the son of Bev and Tim Annala.
Winegrowers honors industry leaders
Day 3 of the Washington Winegrowers annual meeting features award luncheon
Good to Know: Reflections on the elder statesmen of apple and pear IPM
The integrated pest management foundation that entomologists Stan Hoyt and Everett Burts built decades ago still supports growers today.
Adrian Arts, a young grower from Summerland, British Columbia
Adrian began farming about five years ago, after obtaining degrees in water resource science and geology. He returned home to Summerland and is now leasing and managing several smaller orchards. He is the son of Shirley Hansen and Adrian Arts.
Matt Murphy, a young grower from Geneva, New York
Matt is a first-generation tree fruit grower and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in viticulture, enology and plant sciences. He’s a farm manager at Red Jacket Orchards and is the son of Tina and Marty Murphy.
New pear geneticist hired
Jessica Waite, a postdoctoral research associate at Washington State University, has been hired by the
Francisco Sarmiento Jr., a young grower from East Wenatchee, Washington
He’s a second-generation farmer and the son of Margarita and Francisco Sarmiento.
Washington State University hires new extension specialist
Jenny Bolivar-Medina Late last fall, Washington State University hired Jenny Bolivar-Medina for a new position
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.
2020 Cherry King crowned
Dena Ybarra given annual honor at Cherry Institute.
Peter Landolt, 1952–2019
Longtime USDA entomologist dead at 66.
Dininny: A Good Fruit goodbye and a welcome, too
We’re starting the new year with some new staff changes.
More growers count in census count update
Ag census methodology change recognizes a broader array of growers.
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.
Michigan hort society bestows three awards
Robinettes, Laubach and German get the honors.
Tree fruit industry leaders honored at 2019 Washington awards banquet
Tree fruit industry bestows honors at annual banquet
Richard Thomason: 1948–2019
Longtime apple grower Richard Harris Thomason of Brewster, Washington, died on Nov. 18, according to
Matt Haak, a young grower from Zillah, Washington
Matt is a second-generation tree fruit farmer in Washington’s Yakima Valley and pursued a
Of hair and horticulture: 2019 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
Dain Craver’s personality drives his passion and career.
Walk the talk: 2019 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
Dain Craver contributes to industry through education.
Fervent for fruit: 2019 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
Enthusiasm drives the work of Washington’s Dain Craver, the 2019 Good Fruit Grower of the Year.
Harper named director of Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center
Jayson Harper has been named director of Penn State University’s Fruit Research and Extension Center.
Phylloxera, economics highlight the 2019 Washington State Grape Society annual meeting
Identifying and managing phylloxera, a common grape pest that is popping up in Washington, dominated the presentations and displays Thursday at the 2019 annual meeting of the Washington State Grape Society in Grandview. An estimated 255 people attended Day 1 of the two-day gathering, which continues Friday at the Grandview Nazarene Church.
CMI names Julie Gordon its new president
Gordon will replace the retiring Phil Korson at Cherry Marketing Institute.
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.
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.
Milkovich: Back in the business
Fondness for fruit farming brings new associate editor to GFG team.
Washington Apple Education Foundation celebrating 25 years
WAEF awards more than $1.1 million in scholarships, but its impact goes beyond the money.