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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.
Prengaman: Good Fruit Grower welcomes Michigan-based writer Matt Milkovich
This month, Good Fruit Grower welcomes a new associate editor, Matt Milkovich, who will expand
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.
Dininny: Good Fruit Grower welcomes new advertising sales coordinator
Good Fruit Grower is gaining a new advertising sales coordinator. Germaine Newstead joined the magazine
Kate Evans named interim director of WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center
Kate Evans Washington State University professor and horticulturalist Kate Evans has been selected as the
Stemilt adds Belton to agriculture leadership team
Darrin Belton Stemilt Growers, a tree fruit growing, packing and shipping company based in Wenatchee,
Parkhill joins Next Big Thing growers’ cooperative as executive director
Jennifer Parkhill Next Big Thing, a growers’ cooperative that grows and markets managed varieties of
Kropf and Coulter appointed to Michigan Apple Committee board
Kimberly A. Kropf and Caleb J. Coulter were appointed to the Michigan Apple Committee board
Josh Heinicke, a young grower from Wenatchee, Washington
https://youtu.be/4-7Uy5qsYwQ family background / Josh is the fourth generation of his family in farming and
Prengaman: Yearn to learn
Industry innovation drives this magazine, and in my new role, I’m eager to guide our coverage of the research, policies and practices shaping the fruit business today.
Kasey Cronquist named president of blueberry councils
Kasey Cronquist The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) and U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) have
Roger Way, 1918–2019
Roger Way. (Courtesy Cornell University) Roger Way, world-renowned apple breeder and professor emeritus of pomology
Organic community honors David Granatstein
Retired sustainable agriculture specialist recognized for 30-year career at WSU.
Anita Azarenko named interim vice provost for outreach and engagement at OSU
Anita Azarenko Anita Azarenko has been named interim vice provost for the division of university
Matthew Hendrickson fills new staff position at USApple
Matthew Hendrickson The U.S. Apple Association announced in a news release that Matthew Hendrickson will
Dininny: A new view
With a change in leadership at Good Fruit Grower, our commitment to all of you remains steadfast.
Erika Espinoza, a young grower from Tieton, Washington
https://youtu.be/4upoLWmDeOk family background / Erika grew up in Washington’s Yakima Valley and was trained in
Robert Kershaw, 1938-2019
Good Fruit Grower received the following announcement, dated May 13, about the passing of Domex
Erin Carlson, a young grower from Summerland, British Columbia
https://youtu.be/j6nyF1ohOQQ family background/ Erin received her agriculture degree in organics at the University of Guelph
Michael Mitterer, a young grower from Kastelbell, South Tyrol, Italy
https://youtu.be/9wuHYXJaAio family background / Michael grew up working at his family farm in the Alps
Kevin Kenoyer, a young grower from Cashmere, Washington
https://youtu.be/5kkO4p4FgUI family background/Kevin is a fourth-generation grower who grew up in the Wenatchee River Valley.
BC Tree Fruits hires CEO, CFO
BC Tree Fruits, a grower cooperative that packs most of British Columbia’s apples, has permanently
Sara Spayd receives highest honor from the American Society for Enology and Viticulture
Sara Spayd, professor emerita of North Carolina State University, Raleigh, has been selected to receive
Growers, researchers earn IFTA awards
Annual awards from the International Fruit Tree Association recognize industry leaders.
New Jersey Peach Promotion Council welcomes new board members
Erica Shiles The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council announced in a news release
Industry veteran Jamie Peha appointed as executive director of Auction of Washington Wines
Jamie Peha The Auction of Washington Wines has named industry veteran Jamie Peha
Dustin Tobin, a young grower from Grandview, Washington
https://youtu.be/QBDNg8YDwV8 family background/Dustin grew up working with his family at Dave Tobin Farms and studied
Washington Winegrowers bestows annual awards
Washington wine industry leaders honored.
Harrison Van Meekeren, a young grower from Lakeville, Nova Scotia
https://youtu.be/o_kqGWKwkTk family background / Harrison grew up in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia and
Washington Winegrowers elect board members
The Washington Winegrowers Association elected board members and officers at their annual meeting held in
IFTA Heuser lecturer: Start with the problem
Agriculture’s ability to collect data is greater than its ability to model and interpret data,
Ryan Johnson, a young grower from Harrah, Washington
https://youtu.be/c4wr824jEnk family background/Ryan is an operations manager at the nursery. He grew up working various
Sale of Broetje Orchards creates FirstFruits Farms
New owner plans to continue many employee-support programs created by Broetje.
IFTA bestows awards
Paul Wafler of Wafler Farms was named the Outstanding Grower for 2019 by the International
Stephen Garczynski, 1960-2019
Stephen Garczynski Stephen Garczynski, research geneticist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in
USApple announces 2019 Young Apple Leaders
The U.S. Apple Association announced its class of 2019 Young Apple Leaders, a group of
Roland Markgraf, a young grower from Kelowna, British Columbia
https://youtu.be/HOpOWGRf3IE family background / Roland will be graduating from University of British Columbia with a
Winegrowers awards
Jim McFerran (left) receives the Erick Hanson Memorial Winegrape Grower of the Year Award
IFTA founder Wallace Heuser has died
Wallace Heuser, recognized internationally as an authority on tree fruit, rootstocks and orchard systems, has
BC Tree Fruits restructures
International Fruit Tree Association tour attendees participate in a hard cider tasting session in
Nereyida Ponce, a young grower from Prosser, Washington
https://youtu.be/n5Gz_95FmW8 family background/Nereyida grew up on her family’s farm growing Concord grapes. She is pursuing
Acclaimed honey bee geneticist receives UC Davis Distinguished Emeritus Award
Robert E. Page Jr. (Courtesy University of California, Davis) Internationally acclaimed honey bee
Mike Willett crowned 75th Cherry King
Mike Willett is named the 2019 Cherry King at the Northwest Cherry Growers’ Cherry
Dan Norman, a young grower from Sparta, Michigan
https://youtu.be/zg5xYhPLDJA family background/ Dan is a first-generation tree fruit grower who wants to build on
Washington State Grape Society awards
Rick Hamman Katherine East Grape Society President Bill Riley presented the organization’s
Michelle Cortens, a young grower from Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHI9nMXT8K8 family background/Michelle is the first generation in her family in agriculture. She grew up
Chelan Fruit announces new interim CEO
The Chelan Fruit Cooperative board of directors announced CEO Reggie Collins will transition from his