Support for Apple Industry at the Core for Valent U.S.A.
October 17, 2020 Greg Clarke is a Senior Field Development Specialist for Valent U.S.A., the sponsor of the American Fruit Grower Apple Grower of the Year award. He’s based in Pennsylvania and lives just about 40 miles north of Catoctin Mountain Orchard, which is co-owned by this year’s Apple Grower of the Year, Robert Black. He first met Black in the mid-1980s, when Clarke was still an undergraduate, just starting on the road to receiving a doctorate in plant pathology.
“My father was a consultant/salesman for a distributor in the region, and I was riding along with him one day when he called on them,” Clarke recalls. “My impression from that first visit was of a hard-working family and an operation that was basically fearless in trying new things; they embraced the idea of diversity in production very early.”
Clarke went on to do graduate work at the Penn State Fruit Research lab in Biglerville, PA, and then settled in the region. Over the years he’s seen Black at countless twilight meetings, large conventions, and other fruit industry gatherings, such as the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA).
Greg Clarke
“He’s always had good questions and helpful comments and is so willing to share with other growers,” he says. “He works with scientists, speaks at IFTA , you name it. He’s a real presence in the industry. He’s everywhere, it seems like.”
But Clarke says he’s not a supporter of Apple Grower of the Year just because he’s a fan of Black. He says he and his company have long been supporters of the award because it’s a great way to give back to the industry.
“Valent is honored to sponsor the Apple Grower of the Year award. It’s a token of our appreciation for all the tireless individuals who propel the industry forward each season,” he says. “On behalf of the entire Valent team, we commend American apple growers for their stewardship and dedication to produce the best apples in the world. Valent aims to partner with growers and the industry on the future of sustainable agriculture, and this is one way to do that — by elevating and celebrating someone who sets the bar for the industry.”
BUD TO BOX
Clarke says Valent has developed a broad portfolio of conventional, organic, and biological solutions for U.S. apple and tree fruit markets to protect crops from pests, diseases, and weeds. Valent also has products to enhance soil health, and a number of plant growth regulators to help increase fruit marketability and
manage harvest and fruit quality.
“Valent, in conjunction with our sister company, Pace International, provides solutions from Bud to Box,” he says. “Our products and services are designed to offer grower solutions from the first bud of the apple-growing season all the way to the box that reaches consumers. It’s our commitment to growers and packers in the U.S. apple industry to help grow, store, and ship the best apples in the world.”
Clarke says he and his colleagues see a lot of pressure from consumers and food companies for sustainable produce, and they’re reacting. “Growers need softer chemistries that are easy on beneficial insects, safe for the environment, and tough on harmful pests, so we are looking at how to continue to provide that for growers,” he says.
In a similar vein, he notes there are approximately 41,000 acres of organic tree fruit in the U.S., and that market is growing 10% year over year. “Organic growers need sustainable and effective products to manage their operations,” he says. “Along these lines, Valent offers products like DiPel DF Biological Insecticide and PyGanic Crop Protection, and we’re anticipating registration very soon of an organic formulation of our harvest management product, ReTain Plant Growth Regulator.”
BRIGHT FUTURE
But it’s not just because of all the new tools for growers that Clarke is optimistic about the future; it is the young growers themselves. He says he’s been doing his job for 28 years, and over that time he has had the privilege of working with some of the best growers in the industry.
“What I have noticed over the last eight to 10 years is this new group of young men and women at the meetings and fully engaged in the orchards — the sons and daughters of the folks I started my career working with. And what I see is impressive,” he says. “They are bright, hard-working, and innovative. They seem very well connected by texts, Twitter, and other means to share information.”
Valent wants to continue to inspire these young growers and the future of sustainable agriculture through programs like the Apple Grower of the Year, says Clarke.
“By promoting these top growers and sharing their stories, it lifts the entire industry,” he says. “Bob is a great model for these young growers because he’s innovative and eager to serve. I really think the industry is in good hands, and I’m excited to see this next generation coming up.”
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