The Best Of The Best

Greg Nix (2001)

Greg Nix can sum up his business philosophy in one concise statement: "Don't ever think that things will remain the same. If you are not willing to change some aspects of your business, then your business will not grow," he says.

Nix, who currently handles sales and is the key decision maker in regard to the orchards maintained by his company, Apple Wedge Packers & Cider of Hendersonville, NC, has always taken into account the evolution of the company. Even while reflecting on the changes that have taken place in the apple industry since he was honored as Apple Grower of the Year, Nix still has his gaze focused on the future. "I don't think the key to being a successful apple grower has changed very much. Our objectives at Apple Wedge Packers & Cider are still marketing and moving the business forward," he says.

However, Nix does feel there has been at least one major development in the industry in the past few years. "Smart Fresh — that one chemical alone has advanced the storage of apples more than anything else," he says.

Nix acknowledges that new challenges have materialized as well. He considers the labor shortage, skyrocketing fuel prices, and the loss of certain crop protectants to be the most significant challenges facing apple growers today.

Never one to waver in the face of obstacles, Nix has set a precedent for industry involvement that includes serving on the board of the Grades & Standards and the Market Steering Committees of the North Carolina Apple Growers Association, Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association, and Southeastern IPM Board. Nix was also a key force in getting land zoned for agricultural use in his own region.

Nix keeps it simple when talking about the other goals he hopes to accomplish during his career. "I would like to have a successful business that is profitable. I would like to create a foundation for my family to build on in order to carry on the business," he says. 

Fred Valentine (2002)

Fred Valentine has seen the apple industry from many different angles since winning the Apple Grower of the Year award in 2002. At the time, he was a horticulturist with Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, WA, after having spent many years with Blue Star Cooperative. Since then, he's shifted to the nursery side of the industry, taking the role of sales representative of North Central Washington for Van Well Nursery. Through it all, Valentine maintains a small orchard at his home in East Wenatchee, putting his years of experience to personal use.

Much of Valentine's experience is in variety development (he was a leader in the introduction of Cameo), so it's no surprise that he considers variety selection to be the key to success for all growers in the future. "You need to be more diversified in your varieties than you've ever been before," notes Valentine. "Back then, you could get away with two to three different varieties; now, you need at least five to six of them." Valentine also says growers must constantly be paying attention to new varieties, and whether they would be a good fit for their farm.

Once you have your varieties in the ground, the next step, according to Valentine, is to make sure you're tied to a warehouse that is best suited to meet your needs. With the decline of the Washington Apple Commission, now more than ever, growers need to stay connected to all segments of the industry, from packing down to marketing.

In the packinghouse, Valentine cites SmartFresh (1-MCP), along with advancements in cold storage, as important tools in helping growers continue to develop a quality product for the market. With the use of such tools, buyers can now expect a fresh piece of fruit every time they go to the store, he says.

While Valentine will continue to help develop new varieties and product lines, he still feels strongly about the value of a Golden Delicious. "There are lots of breeding programs out there, but to me, you still can't top a good Golden."

Ralph Broetje (2003)

To be perfectly honest, not a whole lot has changed for Ralph Broetje since he won the Apple Grower of the Year award in 2003. Perhaps the most significant thing he's noticed — and certainly not for the better — is the dwindling labor supply in the last few years. There have been too many times that, without an adequate supply of field workers to pick the fruit, he's been forced to leave fruit hanging on the tree. It's a situation he hopes will be resolved quickly, as growers in the Pacific Northwest, like the fruit they produce, can't afford to be left hanging much longer.

However, with Broetje, you don't necessarily want things to change too much. After all, he's been able to successfully build one of the largest apple growing operations in the country, with more than 5,000 acres in the hills of Prescott, WA. He continues to spend hours each day in the orchard, putting out a quality crop of Reds, Granny Smith, and new strains of Gala, and he maintains a strong relationship with his marketing team.

Through all this, Broetje remains as humble as ever, and prefers to shift the focus to all of his employees, both family and field workers. In the early 1990s, Broetje and his family developed Vista Hermona ("beautiful view"), a community where many of his workers now live. With single-family homes and apartment units, as well as a chapel, a gymnasium, and more, Vista Hermona is a reflection of Broetje's commitment to providing a better quality of life for all of his employees.

As Broetje Orchards moves into the future, the varieties may change, and perhaps even the vast acreage will continue to grow. But one thing that's sure to remain constant is Broetje's unparalleled commitment to his family, employees, and everyone associated with the company.

Darrel Oakes (2004)

Though Darrel Oakes cites labor availability and energy prices as two major areas of concern plaguing growers today, he is careful to point out that there has been at least one recent positive development in the apple industry. "It is a little easier to be a success now because the price of fruit is higher. The ability of marketing channels to reimburse growers for the cost of producing apples has improved," he says.

Not even the force of the shaky fruit market that pressed upon many growers a few years ago was enough to sway Oakes from taking calculated risks. Despite the downturn of the market in the late 1990s, Oakes and his staff planted about 100 acres of trees.

Oakes stays in touch with the industry by making sure he gets involved with its key players. He is a member of The Next Big Thing (a marketing program for the new variety MN 1914), chairs the New York Apple Marketing Board, served on the Advisory Committee of the Lake Ontario Fruit Extension team, and served on the board of directors for the International Fruit Tree Association.

LynOaken Farms Inc. has been a family-run business for several generations. The company was founded in Lyndonville, NY, by Oakes' grandfather, and family members ranging from Oakes' son Jonathan to his nephew Jerod Thurber are involved in its day-to-day operations. Oakes would like to see the

tradition continue. "What I want most is to prepare our company to move onto the succeeding generations," he says.
To accomplish this goal, the staff of LynOaken Farms Inc. has been diversifying its marketing efforts, which Oakes feels have become a crucial element for any company to take into account when formulating a business strategy. "If I have learned one lesson during the years I have spent in this industry, it is, diversify, diversify, diversify," he says.