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2026 Apple Grower of the Year

apple grower of the year
American Fruit Grower logo, Valent ReTain logo, and Apple Grower of the Year logo.

Announcing the 2026 Apple Grower of the Year Winners

Robert “Bobby” Brown III, owner of Orchard Dale Fruit Company in Waterport, NY, is the 2026 Apple Grower of the Year. An eighth-generation grower, Brown earned the industry’s top honor after navigating a demanding 2025 season marked by extreme weather and personal loss, while continuing to advance his operation and support the broader apple community. Known for adopting high-density plantings, precision crop management, and emerging technologies, he pairs technical rigor with a willingness to share what works, setting a standard peers and partners turn to across the region.

Read about the winner.

In addition to the national honoree, regional winners are also recognized:

  • East Region: Mark Russell and Jill MacKenzie, Two of Clubs Orchard, Appleton, NY
  • Midwest/Mountain States Region: Allen Teach, Sunrise Orchards, Gays Mills, WI
  • West Region: William and Angell Clark, Diamondback Acres, Chelan, WA


The Apple Grower of the Year award honors growers who influence the industry through action and results. It is presented annually by American Fruit Grower®, Western Fruit Grower® and parent company Meister Media Worldwide and has been sponsored by Valent U.S.A. since 2015.