Nourse Family Receives Distinguished Service Award

Posted by Brian Sparks|February 6, 2014

At its annual meeting on Jan. 27, the North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association (NARBA) presented Nate and Tim Nourse of Nourse Farms, Inc., with its 2014 Distinguished Service Award. Nourse Farms, based in Massachusetts, is a leading nursery supplier of berry plants to the industry.

The award especially honors their leadership in developing the Association’s North American Bramble Growers Research Foundation’s Nursery Contribution program and their strong support of this program, which since its inception in 2007 has more than doubled the funds available to the Foundation for making grants to research. Nate Nourse, who was there to receive the award, served as NARBA president in 2010 and 2011; both Nate and his father, Tim Nourse, have held many positions of leadership within the berry industry.

Making the award was grower Nathan Milburn of Milburn Orchards in Elkton, MD, and 2012-2013 president of NARBA. Said Milburn, “Most of us know Nourse Farms as a leading supplier of plants to the berry industry, but we recognize here the father and son Tim and Nate Nourse, for their contributions specifically to the North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association and the raspberry and blackberry industry. Their commitment to our industry and support of our organization are unrivaled.”

NARBA is a membership organization of blackberry/raspberry growers, researchers, and others with members in more than 35 states, eight Canadian provinces, and five countries. NARBA’s 2014 annual meeting and conference were held in Hershey, PA, in association with the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention. For more information about NARBA, visit www.raspberryblackberry.com.

A list of previous winners of this Distinguished Service award may be found at www.raspberryblackberry.com/local.cfm?doc=webdocs/NARBAAwards.htm.