Take Your Pick! 2021 Apple Grower of the Year Nominations Yield Big Bounty
June 9, 2021 One thing I’ve always liked about the apple industry is how it spans so much of the country. All fruit and nut crops need at least a semi-hospitable climate and at least halfway decent soil — that’s why you don’t see many fruits being grown in Northern Alaska or Death Valley — and most have more specific requirements.
For instance, some of the crops we cover are only grown in a Mediterranean climate, which is only found in the U.S. in California. Still others require chilling, but don’t like winters that are too cold, like stone fruits.
But apples are farmed all over the country. I was reminded of that again recently in reviewing the nominations for American Fruit GrowerSM Apple Grower of the Year award, sponsored by Valent USA. A total of 16 states were represented among the nominees this year. The nomination period has closed, and we will reveal the winner next month.
Meantime, a colleague asked me why we’d never printed the names of the folks who have been nominated. He thought people might enjoy seeing it. I frankly had never thought of it before, but it makes perfect sense, so we’re going to do it this year (see below).
The award recognizes apple growers who have reached outstanding levels of success through their efforts in innovative production, marketing, horticultural, and management practices. Winners demonstrate commitment and leadership to their field by producing high-quality fruit, being actively involved in associations, and taking a strong role in shaping the direction of the apple industry.
Without further ado, here are the 2021 Apple Grower of the Year nominations/nominees, each listed once, although some were nominated multiple times, in no particular order.
- Harold Albinder, Hudson River Fruit Distributors, Milton, NY
- Ernest and Charlotte Shelton, Vintage Virginia Apples, North Garden, VA
- John and Lori Redmond, Redmond’s Apple Basket Orchard, Ripon, WI
- Delicious Orchards, Colts Neck, NJ
- Scott and Marshall VanDeWalle, VanDeWalle Fruit Farm, Alton, NY
- Gregg Bachman, Bachman’s Sunny Hill Fruit Farm, Carroll, OH
- Mark and Sue Christopher, Maple Leaf Orchard, Spring Valley, WI
- Lawrence Sambado, Prima Frutta Packing, Linden, CA
- Gil and Sandie Barden, Barden Family Orchard, North Scituate, RI
- Dave Gleason, Kershaw Fruit, Yakima, WA
- Gary S. Long, Long Ranch, Naches, WA
- Peter Russell, Russell Farms, Appleton, NY
- David Shearer, Pine Hill Orchards, Colrain, MA
- Allen Teach, Sunrise Orchards, Inc., Gays Mills, WI
- David Lillard and Tim Mercier, Mercier Orchards, Blue Ridge, GA
- Leonard Ligon, Leonard Ligon Farms, Traverse City, MI
- The Dutton Family, Dutton Ranch, Sebastopol, CA
- Randy Frens, Frens Bros. Orchards, Fremont, MI
- Robert Brown III, Orchard Dale Fruit Co., Waterport, NY
- Byron Albano, Cuyama Orchards, Arvin, CA
- Neal Manly, Regal Fruit International, Ephrata, WA
- Travis Allan, Allan Bros., Naches, WA
- Mark Mathis, Rite Bite Farms, Mesa, WA
- Steve Ela, Ela Family Farms, Hotchkiss, CO
- Lynnell Brandt, Proprietary Variety Management, Wapato, WA
- Chip and Trevor Hardy, Brookdale Fruit Farm, Hollis, NH
- Chris Baugher, Adams County Nursery, Inc., Aspers, PA
- Rob Larocque, Carter Hill Orchard, Concord, NH
- Bernard Heberle, Roberts Circle R Fruit Farms, Kent, NY
- James Engelsma II, J Engelsma Orchard, Walker, MI
- The Crist Family, Crist Bros Orchards, Walden, NY
- Chris Monson, Monson Fruit Company, Selah, WA
- Larry Doe, Doe Orchards, Harvard, MA
- Jim Koan, Almar Orchards, Flushing, MI
- Seth Forrence, Forrence Orchards, Peru, NY
- Anthony Fino, Fino Farms, Milton, NY
- James W. (Bill) Patterson, Patterson Fruit Farm, Chesterland, OH
- Bobby and Sara Hricko, Green’s Fruit Farm, Elysburg, PA
- Tom Rasch, Tom Rasch & Son Orchards, Greenville, MI
- Scott Swindeman, Applewood Orchards, Deerfield, MI
- Daniel Hicks III, Sunnycrest Farm, Londonderry, NH
- Fred Wescott, Wescott Orchards, Elgin, MN
- Bill Jackson, Jackson’s Orchard & Nursery, Bowling Green, KY
- Michael Azzano, Azzano Farms, Omak, WA
- Joy Cline, Bear Mountain Orchards, Aspers, PA
To all of those nominated, best of luck!
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